Texas is once again at the center of a political power play.
In recent months, lawmakers have redrawn congressional maps to secure five additional Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Democrats in California are responding with their own redistricting efforts. This tit-for-tat maneuvering reveals a deeper truth: the two-party duopoly is losing its grip.
As I wrote in my recent op-ed for the Dallas Morning News, “These are the desperate tactics of a two-party duopoly that recognizes its dominance is slipping. Gerrymandering is yesterday’s politics.”
But here’s the good news: independent voters can make gerrymandering irrelevant.
What Is an Independent Voter?
Independent voters are Americans who reject rigid partisan labels. They vote based on values, issues, and candidates—not party affiliation. In doing so, independent voters have modernized the American dream, demanding representation that reflects their diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
They also engage in split-ticket voting, choosing candidates from different parties on the same ballot. This behavior disrupts the assumptions behind gerrymandering, which relies on predictable partisan loyalty.
The Gerrymandering Playbook—and Why It’s Failing
Texas Republicans have used classic redistricting tactics:
-Packing opposition voters into a few districts to minimize their influence elsewhere
-Cracking remaining opposition voters across multiple districts to dilute their impact
As I noted:
“Texas Republicans have applied these age-old tactics and more. They have created majority-Hispanic districts which appear on paper to be diverse but actually target low-turnout neighborhoods, keeping them functionally safe for the GOP.”
But these tactics only work if voters behave as expected. And they’re not.
The Rise of Independent Voters in Texas
According to research from the Independent Center, younger voters are leading a quiet revolution. Our 2025 Nationwide Online Generational Survey, conducted by the Bullfinch Group, found that 32% of Gen Z identifies as independent—the highest of any age group.
“Younger voters are also the most likely to embrace ballot options beyond the two major parties.”
This shift is already reshaping Texas politics. In Houston’s 9th Congressional District, for example, redistricting turned a Democratic stronghold into a district that would have voted for Donald Trump by nearly 20 points. But the dispersal of younger Black and Hispanic voters into neighboring districts could create unexpected competition.
In Austin, lawmakers packed younger, diverse urban voters into a single district. But if youth turnout continues to surge, that energy could spill into surrounding districts—challenging the assumption that these seats are safely Republican.
A Movement That Can’t Be Contained
“Voters don’t want rigged systems… More than 75% of Americans agree that gerrymandering by either political party is unfair.”
And with 43% of Americans now identifying as independents, the tide is turning. Even a small share of independent votes—just 5 to 10 percentage points—could upend the calculations of partisan mapmakers.
“Texas’ maps may reshape districts, but they might not be able to contain a movement of young Texans who are increasingly politically independent and tired of the parties that continue to fail them.”
Conclusion: Independents Represent Tomorrow’s Voters
Gerrymandering assumes yesterday’s voters. But independent voters represent tomorrow’s electorate—diverse, engaged, and unwilling to be boxed in by partisan games.
Texas has a chance to lead the way. By organizing, showing up, and supporting independent candidates, voters can prove that the future of American democracy lies beyond the two-party system.
