To defeat the Texas gerrymander, Democrats need to go nuclear

Protesters carry signs against redistricting at the Indianapolis Statehouse on Aug. 7. (Michael Conroy/AP) By Arkadi Gerney and Sarah Knight

Arkadi Gerney and Sarah Knight are Democratic strategists.

At the insistence of President Donald Trump, Texas Republicans took the extraordinary step of advancing legislation to redraw district lines mid-cycle and trying to add five seats to the narrow GOP advantage in the U.S. House. In response, Democrats are finding a new boldness — Texas lawmakers are fleeing the state to deny a quorum, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is threatening a gerrymander of his own, and even some progressive groups supporting nonpartisan redistricting are reconsidering their stances. PAID PROMOTED STORIES