A Guide to State Redistricting Efforts Before the 2026 Midterm Elections
We’re only months away from historic midterm elections that could potentially reshape the U.S. Congress. But in an unprecedented turn of events, both Democrats and Republicans have been in a neck-and-neck race to win as many seats as possible with the help of mid-decade redistricting efforts. While the window for both parties to secure an advantage is rapidly closing, all the news of gerrymandering efforts has probably left you very confused.
But don’t worry! The Root has you covered with a full rundown of redistricting plans happening around the country. Be prepared to take some notes…
Trump’s Warning
At the beginning of January, Trump warned Republicans that more than just Republican Congressional seats are at risk if they don’t abide by his redistricting effort. Trump said in a speech to House Republicans, “You got to win the midterms, because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be — I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” he declared. “I’ll get impeached.”
It took only weeks for Republicans in multiple states to fall in line.
Texas Becomes the First
In August 2025, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed off on a new congressional map, designed to give Republicans five additional seats and effectively dismantle the districts represented by prominent Texas Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Al Green.
In response, Green is running in a new district, preparing for a run-off for the 18th Congressional District against incumbent Christian Menefee, while Crockett’s historic bid for Senate came to an end in March.
California Fights Back
California is home to one of the strongest Democratic voting blocs in the country, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Trump adversary who many consider a top 2028 presidential contender. After Texas passed its mid-decade gerrymandering plan, Newsom and other Democrats were prepared to fight back with their own.
In the November 2025 election, voters in California approved Proposition 50, which amended the state’s constitution to allow districts to be redrawn, giving Democrats five more seats. In response, Republicans challenged the effort, which made its way to the Supreme Court. In the end, the high court sided with California, paving the way for other Democratic states to move forward with their own redistricting plans.
Missouri Redistricting Impacts Black Voters
The next red state to enact its own redistricting map was Missouri, where special sessions resulted in the redrawing of district lines, according to the Kansas City Star. Black voters warned lawmakers that the new map disproportionately impacted Black and brown districts, dividing their voting power and diluting their voices. Still, Missouri state officials passed the measure to give Republicans one more seat.
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed off on the new maps in September 2025, according to The New York Times. The Supreme Court also sided with the state, following legal challenges.
North Carolina Republicans Undermine Governor
Despite being run by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, North Carolina Republicans passed their own gerrymandered map specifically targeting Rep. Don Davis, a Black Democrat, according to WCNC News. In the end, new state maps forced Davis to run in District 1 instead. Meanwhile, Republicans have the upper hand as new district lines increased the GOP voter majority.
Utah’s History of Redistricting
While several states have a long history of tackling redistricting, the stakes were high in Utah after a 2018 vote on Proposition 4 prohibited partisan gerrymandering. After the vote, the Utah Legislature enacted Senate Bill 200 in 2020, which reduced the independent redistricting commission to an advisory role and allowed the Legislature to ignore the suggestions and introduce its own maps. Issues soon arose when the League of Women Voters accused the state of violating Prop 4 and took the matter to the state’s Supreme Court in 2024.
Utah’s Failed Gerrymandering Scheme
GOP leaders then conspired to eliminate Prop 4 and were quickly met with pushback from Utah voters and Democrats. In the end, Republican efforts to repeal Prop 4 failed, according to an official report from Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson.
Indiana Republicans Dissent
Following a push from President Trump, Gov. Mike Braun called for a special legislative session over redistricting in late 2025. But shockingly, he was met by Senate Republicans, who refused to vote on a redistricting measure, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Republicans in the state House, however, passed a new map that turned two Democrat-led districts distinctly red. But once the matter reached the Senate, it was shut down again, ending the redistricting effort in the state. In response, Trump has threatened to support opponents of any Republican running this midterm season who did not support the redistricting campaign, POLITICO reported.
Virginia Democrats Get Revenge
In Virginia, Democrats were pressed to secure more seats to combat ongoing GOP gerrymandering plots. We previously told you that the stakes were high as Democrats backed their own redistricting plan, creating a 10-1 advantage under a new map. Virginia voters approved the constitutional amendment on April 21.
Trump reacted to his major loss on Truth Social. “A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,” he said. “All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive ‘Mail In Ballot Drop!’ Where have I heard that before.”
The Story of Sen. L. Louise Lucas
(Photo by Minh Connors for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Folks called Virginia’s win against Trump revenge for one Black senator who was carved out of her own district back in 2001. Sen. L. Louise Lucas was set to win her seat until Republicans redrew district lines and effectively pushed her out, according to the Washington Post. She celebrated the 2026 redistricting win online.
“Remember when Republicans drew Virginia’s Congressional map so Black people were packed into one district and said we should be grateful they gave our community this district,” she said on X. “NOW they can have one district and see how much they love it.”
Florida Becomes Latest State
Florida became the latest state to adopt a new district map after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure that would give Republicans a 24-4 advantage over Democrats. The new map was passed in a special session on April 29, NBC News reported, but has already been met with legal challenges from critics.
The new lines notably target District 10, which is home base for the country’s first and only Gen-Z representative, Democrat Maxwell Frost. Additionally, the map eliminates Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor’s Tampa-based seat and Rep. Darren Soto’s Central Florida seat.
Supreme Court Rules on Louisiana Redistricting
This week, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, essentially gutting Section 2 of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965. In a 6-3 conservative majority, the court’s decision could potentially lead to dozens of districts that were once protected being erased, according to an NPR analysis. In turn, we could see fewer Black candidates and even less Black representation in Congress.
Is Maryland Next?
Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s only sitting Black governor, expressed keen interest in joining in on the gerrymandering. But in the face of pushback from state officials, Moore’s efforts fell short. According to PBS, the clock ran out on the proposal amid internal disagreements.
Minority House Leader Hakeem Jeffries told POLITICO that Maryland is one of several states where redistricting could be revived. “All options are on the table as we get through the 2026 election and look to the future,” he said. “As many governors have already indicated, we will be prepared to respond in states like New York, Illinois and Maryland, as well as in Colorado, in advance of the 2028 election.”
More Redistricting Plans on the Way
Although the Supreme Court ruled that New York’s redistricting efforts could not impact the 2026 elections, state officials are revamping their efforts following the high court’s decision in Louisiana.
“The Supreme Court has been chipping away at our elections for years. It is clearly carrying out Donald Trump’s will with this decision. New York has always led the fight for voting rights and we’ll lead again,” Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote on X. “I’m working with the Legislature to change New York’s redistricting process so we can fight back against Washington’s attempts to rig our democracy.”
In Georgia, state Sen. Greg Dolezal called on the governor to hold a special session to redraw congressional maps. “This is a time to be bold. This is a time to be aggressive,” Dolezal said following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
