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Americans Worry Democracy In Danger Amid Gerrymandering Fights Survey

Leo Migdal
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americans worry democracy in danger amid gerrymandering fights survey

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Most Americans believe that efforts to redraw U.S. House of Representatives districts to maximize partisan gains, like those under way in Texas and California, are bad for democracy, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. More than half of respondents -- 57% -- said they feared that American democracy itself was in danger, a view held by eight in 10 Democrats and four in 10 in President Donald Trump's... The six-day survey of 4,446 U.S. adults, which closed on Monday, showed deep unease with the growing political divisions in Washington -- where Republicans control both chambers of Congress -- and state capitals. The poll found that 55% of respondents, including 71% of Democrats and 46% of Republicans, agreed that ongoing redistricting plans- such as those hatched by governors in Texas and California in a process known...

At Trump's urging, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session of the state legislature to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, aiming to help Republicans defend... House majority. Most Americans believe that efforts to redraw U.S. House of Representatives districts to maximize partisan gains, like those underway in Texas and California, are bad for democracy, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. More than half of respondents — 57% — said they feared that American democracy itself was in danger, a view held by 8 in 10 Democrats and 4 in 10 in U.S. President Donald Trump's Republican Party.

The six-day survey of 4,446 U.S. adults, which closed on Monday, showed deep unease with the growing political divisions in Washington — where Republicans control both chambers of Congress — and state capitals. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. When politicians redraw congressional district maps to favor their party, they may secure short-term victories.

But those wins can come at a steep price — a loss of public faith in elections and, ultimately, in democracy itself. That’s the conclusion of a peer-reviewed study led by UC Riverside political scientist Shaun Bowler, published in Political Research Quarterly. The research finds that partisan gerrymandering — the manipulation of district boundaries to lock in political advantage — does more than distort representation in Congress. It undermines the belief that elections are fair, a cornerstone of democratic legitimacy. Bowler, a professor of political science, said survey data from tens of thousands of voters in the 2020 and 2022 elections show that Americans view gerrymandering with the same disdain they reserve for bribery... The difference, he said, is that gerrymandering is carried out in full public view, cloaked in arguable legality.

Consider the current push in Texas, where Republican legislators and Gov. Greg Abbott, encouraged by President Donald Trump, are working to redraw congressional districts to add five GOP seats as part a Republican effort to retain control of Congress after next year’s midterm election. “It’s out in the open,” Bowler said. “They’re saying, ‘We’re rigging the midterm election to produce an outcome.’” Even for voters whose party benefits, such victories can feel hollow.

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WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Most Americans Believe That Efforts

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Most Americans believe that efforts to redraw U.S. House of Representatives districts to maximize partisan gains, like those under way in Texas and California, are bad for democracy, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. More than half of respondents -- 57% -- said they feared that American democracy itself was in danger, a view held by eight in 10 Democrats and four in 10...

At Trump's Urging, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott Has Called

At Trump's urging, Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session of the state legislature to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, aiming to help Republicans defend... House majority. Most Americans believe that efforts to redraw U.S. House of Representatives districts to maximize partisan gains, like those underway in Texas and California,...

The Six-day Survey Of 4,446 U.S. Adults, Which Closed On

The six-day survey of 4,446 U.S. adults, which closed on Monday, showed deep unease with the growing political divisions in Washington — where Republicans control both chambers of Congress — and state capitals. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. With your current subscription p...

But Those Wins Can Come At A Steep Price —

But those wins can come at a steep price — a loss of public faith in elections and, ultimately, in democracy itself. That’s the conclusion of a peer-reviewed study led by UC Riverside political scientist Shaun Bowler, published in Political Research Quarterly. The research finds that partisan gerrymandering — the manipulation of district boundaries to lock in political advantage — does more than d...

Consider The Current Push In Texas, Where Republican Legislators And

Consider the current push in Texas, where Republican legislators and Gov. Greg Abbott, encouraged by President Donald Trump, are working to redraw congressional districts to add five GOP seats as part a Republican effort to retain control of Congress after next year’s midterm election. “It’s out in the open,” Bowler said. “They’re saying, ‘We’re rigging the midterm election to produce an outcome.’...