Democratic Texas Rep. Julie Johnson appeared on CNN Tuesday to call for “fair and independent” electoral maps while simultaneously advocating for partisan gerrymandering in blue states.
During an appearance on “The Lead With Jake Tapper,” Johnson framed the ongoing political struggles as “the war for the future of our country and the soul of our democracy.” She condemned the Trump administration’s policies, accusing it of harming millions through healthcare cuts, exacerbating hunger among vulnerable groups, and undermining due process in immigration enforcement.
“I’m all for fair and independent maps as long as we’re all playing by the same rules. But if Republicans want to do partisan gerrymandering in states like Texas and Florida and the like, then Democrats need to do the same in blue states like California to level out the playing field,” Johnson said. “We can’t go forward given the state of our country with our hands handcuffed behind our back and not playing by the same rules.”
Johnson said the current state of political gamesmanship is no longer acceptable.
“It’s just not OK anymore. So this is, as I think there’s an old Abraham Lincoln quote: ‘When times are anew, the calls of actions are anew, and it’s time to have a fresh look at things.’ And so that’s kind of where we are,” Johnson said.
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Johnson said the United States is currently engaged in a battle for its future. (RELATED: ‘Seniors Will Starve, People Will Die’: Democrat Rep Dingell Melts Down After Big, Beautiful Bill Passes)
“This is the war for the future of our country and the soul of our democracy. You know, what the Trump administration has done is kick millions of people off of health care, make a bunch of seniors and veterans and kids go hungry, and they’ve obliterated due process and through our immigration actions that they’ve been taking,” Johnson said. “And so this is all out war for what does our country stand for and where are we going in the future?”
Democratic-controlled states have actively engaged in gerrymandering, notably during the 2020 redistricting cycle. In Illinois, Democrats enacted a congressional map in 2021 that critics argue diluted Republican influence, leading to a lawsuit alleging unconstitutional partisan bias. Similarly, in Maryland, a 2022 state court ruling struck down a Democratic-drawn congressional map as an illegal partisan gerrymander, ordering the state legislature to redraw the lines for the 2022 election.
Contrary to Johnson’s claim, the Trump administration’s immigration actions did not obliterate due process. In 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. J.G.G. that individuals detained under the Alien Enemies Act retain the right to challenge their detention, upholding their due process protections.
Contrary to Democrats’ claims, Trump’s Big Beautiful bill includes a $25 billion safeguard fund for rural hospitals, addressing concerns about Medicaid provider taxes. The changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aim to encourage personal responsibility by extending work requirements, ensuring that those who can work are contributing to society.
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