Are there any differences between how Republicans and Democrats gerrymander districts to gain advantage?

Not from everything I’ve read, no. Republicans are the ones doing most of the gerrymandering now, since they have more power in the legislatures of swing states. But when Democrats had more power (such as in Ohio, not too long ago), they did the exact same kind of gerrymandering. It is not a one-party issue.

Only that republicans tend to be greedier and get caught more. Democrats are more subtle.

None. Contrary to @elbanditoroso the reason Democrats get caught less is because the media are the ones who choose who to ‘catch’. Anyone who doubts that the Dems are every bit as aggressive in gerrymandering needs to look at my state – Maryland. The districts look more like a Rorschach test than following any kind of natural borders or boundaries. Shameless. And Republicans do the same.

We desperately need a constitutional amendment. It’s the only solution because the constitution explicitly puts this process in the hands of the state legislature which is why SCOTUS has traditionally declined to deal with it.

@elbanditoroso I don’t think the Republicans act any differently than the Democrats would in comparable situations. The difference these days is that the Republicans are being squeezed by demographic realities to suspend any pretense of ethical behavior regarding this and most other issues. More worrying is the rather stark disappearance of principled and disciplined intellect in the directional machinery of the party overall. The consequent and rampant dumbing down of the elephant with its accelerating accommodation of its “lunatic fringe” is truly “an ill wind that blows nobody any good”.

Haha – the last answer is at its worst.

It says (basically) republicans do it because democrats would do it. Like that excuses the practice.

It says no such thing. If you read my answer as acceptance of the reality, you are clearly missing my point. The claim that both parties are sick is not an endorsement of the disease. My point is that the elephant’s flagrant excesses are driven by understandable desperation, and should be viewed realistically. The practice itself dates from 1812, and is ALWAYS utilized egregiously by whichever party faces deteriorating numbers through shifting partisan demographics. The extent of the abuse ALWAYS reflects the severity of the shift or its threat, and the Democrats have in the past exhibited spectacular mastery and refinement of the process when their backs are against the wall. Gerrymandering excesses are ALWAYS the go to when your voter percentages are slipping. Today’s tactics reflect the growing desperation of the Republicans as surely as the undisguised full steam maximum effort toward voter suppression.