California voters in 2010 gave the power to draw congressional maps to an independent commission, with the goal of making the process less partisan. The commission last redrew maps following the 2020 census, and the maps were in place for the 2022 and 2024 U.S. House elections.

Texas House Democrats blocked the end of the first special session by maintaining a quorum break, preventing Republicans from passing new congressional maps. Speaker Dustin Burrows adjourned the session with only 95 members present—five short of quorum.

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took several years, working across the aisle with Democrats and liberal-leaning nonprofits, to create an independent “citizens” commission to