Compactness is prioritized over proportionality with rules requiring adherence to county/municipal/town lines.
The thing is is that in practice that still ends up benefiting Democrats relative to the status quo--Texas alone would probably net a few seats.
Proportionality would help Democrats initially but would probably create instability in the long term which could cut harshly against either party as coalitions shift.
TXGOP are just terrible at drawing maps. I can draw a much more compact at the same time more efficient gerrymander.
