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A Newsweek map shows which U.S. states are gerrymandering congressional districts—or considering doing so—ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Why It Matters President Donald Trump’s call for Republican-led states to redraw their congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 elections has triggered a redistricting arms race across the U.S. Typically, states redraw boundaries of congressional districts every 10 years, after the census has concluded. But Trump is hoping to preserve the GOP’s slim majority in Congress through mid-decade redistricting, since the president’s party typically loses seats in midterm elections. However, Democrats, who need to gain three seats to win back the House, are countering by redrawing boundaries in Democrat-led states. The efforts could determine which party wins control of the closely divided House, and whether Democrats will be able to impede Trump’s agenda in the second half of his term. States That Have Passed New U.S. House Maps At Trump’s request, Texas was the first U.S. state to take up redistricting. The effort by the president and the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature prompted Texas Democrats to stage a two-week walkout, kicking off a wave of redistricting efforts across the country. Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed a new U.S. House map—which could help Republicans win five additional seats in next year’s election—into law on August 29. Voting rights advocates have sued to overturn the map, saying it dilutes the power of Black voters and other minorities. Republicans currently hold 25 of the state’s 38 congressional seats. California California was the first Democratic-led state to counter Trump’s redistricting push. The state Legislature passed a new U.S. House map that would temporarily set aside districts adopted by an independent citizens commission after the 2020 census and replace them with districts drafted by Democrats that could help their party win five additional seats. That map will take effect only if voters approve Proposition 50, a ballot measure championed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, in a November 4 election. Democrats currently hold 43 of 52 seats. Republican Governor Mike Kehoe signed a new U.S. House map into law in late September that could help Republicans win an additional seat. Republicans currently hold six of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats. The new map targets a seat held by Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver by shaving off parts of his district in Kansas City and stretching it into Republican-heavy rural areas. Opponents are gathering signatures on a petition that could force a statewide referendum on the map and have also filed several lawsuits. North Carolina North Carolina’s Republican-led General Assembly gave final approval to a new map last week that could help Republicans win an additional seat. The changes to the state’s congressional boundaries seek to prevent the reelection of Representative Don Davis, a Democrat who represents more than 20 counties in what’s been the state’s only swing seat. Democratic Governor Josh Stein cannot veto redistricting maps under state law, so the GOP’s lines can be implemented unless anticipated legal challenges stop them. Republicans currently hold 10 of the state’s 14 congressional seats. The Republican-led Legislature approved a revised congressional map earlier in October after a judge struck down the districts adopted after the 2020 census because lawmakers had circumvented an independent redistricting commission established by voters. The revised map, which still requires court approval, could make some seats more competitive for Democrats. Republicans currently hold all four of Utah’s House seats. States Taking Steps Toward Congressional Redistricting Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Braun has called for a special session to redraw congressional boundaries to begin on November 3. Indiana lawmakers have faced pressure to reshape maps from the Trump administration, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance meeting separately with Indiana Republicans, including Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, in recent months. Last week, a spokesperson for Bray said the Indiana Senate did not have the votes to pass a new congressional map. Since there are 10 Democrats in the 50-member Senate, that means at least a dozen Republicans oppose redistricting. Republicans currently hold seven of Indiana’s nine congressional seats. The Democratic-led General Assembly is meeting in a special session in the first step in a plan to redraw U.S House districts. Democrats currently hold six of 11 districts and view two of the GOP-held seats, those held by Representatives Jen Kiggans and Rob Wittman, as being potentially competitive in next year’s midterms. Lawmakers would need to approve a proposed cons...
