Vice President J.D. Vance defended Republican redistricting efforts during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, arguing that Democrats have long manipulated district maps to their advantage. Vance said counting illegal immigrants in census data unfairly shifts congressional seats away from American citizens, making Republican reforms necessary to restore fairness.
Vance explained that Republican-led redistricting is not about creating a partisan advantage but correcting a long-standing imbalance. He pointed to states like California, Massachusetts, and Illinois as prime examples of aggressive Democratic gerrymandering. “All we’re doing, frankly, is trying to make the situation a little bit more fair,” he said.
When pressed by host Kristen Welker about why Republicans object to current districting if illegal immigrants cannot vote, Vance emphasized that census apportionment is the issue. “They do go in the congressional apportionment. That’s why California has so many more seats,” he stated. He added that representation meant for American citizens is being diluted because non-citizens are included in the population count.
Vance also highlighted how President Trump’s campaign promises—such as eliminating taxes on tips—resonated with working-class Americans, while Democrats’ reliance on broader ideological messaging has not gained traction. He connected this to the redistricting debate, noting that everyday citizens are the ones losing representation under the current system.
Republicans argue that correcting these imbalances is essential for preserving equal representation. Critics counter that the census has always counted total population, not just citizens, and claim that the GOP’s efforts are a power grab. Still, Vance insisted the reforms are about restoring integrity: “We’re literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens.”
