About
Current Role
Jonathan Cervas is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), specializing in redistricting, voting rights, and American political institutions.
Research
Jonathan Cervas’s recent research focuses on the impact of redistricting on representation and voting rights in the United States. His work examines how district boundaries affect electoral outcomes, minority representation, and compliance with legal standards. Cervas has published studies on the Electoral College, partisan fairness, and the consequences of gerrymandering, providing data-driven insights that inform both academic debates and real-world policy decisions.
Redistricting
Jonathan Cervas has served as a court-appointed expert and consultant in major redistricting cases across the United States. His professional work includes drawing congressional and legislative maps for New York as Special Master, advising the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission, and consulting for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Cervas’s expertise has helped courts and commissions develop fair, legally compliant district plans, improve minority representation, and resolve complex voting rights disputes in states such as Alabama, Virginia, New York, and Wisconsin.
Media
Jonathan Cervas has been profiled by the New York Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and several other prominent news organizations. He has been quoted on several dozen news stories, and regularly asked to comment on local and national political issues.
Resources
These pages contain information for students who are looking for a letter of recommendation or to contribute to my research. I also include resources for the public and for journalists who are interested in redistricting and want to learn more.
How a Mapmaker Became New York’s Most Unexpected Power Broker The New York Times
Jonathan Cervas, a Pittsburgh-born postdoctoral fellow and independent redistricting expert, was appointed as special master to redraw New York’s congressional and state senate maps after the Democratic-drawn maps were struck down as unconstitutional. His maps, praised by Republicans and anti-gerrymandering groups but criticized by Democrats, have upended the political landscape by forcing tough primaries and reshaping minority representation in New York City. Though thrust into the spotlight, Cervas insists he was simply applying the law and serving democracy, not politics.
Read it at The New York Times
Jonathan Cervas’ quest to make government represent the voters Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Jonathan Cervas, a postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Mellon, has quickly risen to prominence as a redistricting specialist, playing key roles in both Pennsylvania’s legislative maps and New York’s high-stakes congressional and state senate redrawing. Trained under noted scholar Bernard Grofman, Cervas emphasizes fairness, neutrality, and voter empowerment, viewing redistricting as both art and science in balancing competing democratic values. Though criticized by some politicians, he sees his work as vital to protecting undiluted votes and strengthening democracy at a moment when gerrymandering and partisan manipulation threaten it.
Read it at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
What to know about Bernard Grofman and Jonathan Cervas, Wisconsin’s new map consultants Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Bernard Grofman, a UC-Irvine political scientist, and Jonathan Cervas, a Carnegie Mellon postdoctoral fellow and redistricting expert, were appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review and possibly redraw the state’s legislative maps. Both are regarded as nonpartisan specialists with extensive experience in redistricting cases across the country, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. Tasked with ensuring population equality, compliance with the Voting Rights Act, and neutrality regarding partisan advantage, they could recommend adjustments to submitted proposals—or create their own maps—though their role has sparked criticism from some justices who argue the decision hands too much power to unelected outsiders.
Read more at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Who is the man tasked with redrawing New York’s new district lines? City & State New York
Jonathan Cervas, a Carnegie Mellon postdoctoral fellow and redistricting expert, was appointed by a New York court as special master to redraw the state’s congressional and senate maps after the previous ones were struck down. Though not widely known, he brings extensive experience from redistricting work in Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Georgia, where he earned praise for fairness and technical skill. This marks his first time leading the process solo, and his academic background in political science and mapping technology underscores his reputation as a nonpartisan specialist focused on strengthening democracy.
Read more at City & State New York