Democrats haven’t given up — they’re getting ready to use redistricting pencils to draw new congressional districts in New York and Maryland. Their goal is to increase their numbers leading into next year’s midterm elections. As Republicans come into this month with a razor-thin three-seat majority in the U.S. House, the stakes could not be higher. The redistricting plans as proposed are intended to last through the end of the decade. From there, an independent, nonpartisan commission would assume control of the map-making authority.
Meanwhile, in Texas, GOP Governor Greg Abbott has convened a second special legislative session. His goal is to redraw congressional maps to gain five additional Republican seats. California lawmakers responded swiftly to this action. They came together in their state capitol to begin drawing a new congressional map that would stop Texas in its tracks.
Internal polling presented to California legislators indicates that 52% of voters support the proposed redistricting plan, with 41% opposed and 7% undecided. California’s constitution, enacted long before most every other state, compels an independent commission to draw district lines. That requires legislators to present the plan for a statewide referendum at the ballot in November.
As legislators in California work on this initiative, Texas Democrats returned to their state this week, signaling their commitment to rally support against the Republican-led redistricting in Texas. The new California congressional map would likely produce three deep-blue Democratic districts. It will add two additional Democratic-leaning districts, likely increasing the Democratic-leaning U.S. House by as much as five seats.
For Democrats, the math is daunting — they have fewer opportunities to gerrymander than their Republican counterparts. Like their Democratic opponents, they are committed to using their political power wherever they can. Similarly, Republicans have already agreed to redraw congressional districts in Ohio, Missouri, and Florida. They’re hoping to see similar changes come to Indiana.
“We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation – reshaping the entire 2026 landscape.” – Gene Wu
The political maneuvering behind redistricting made clear a bitterly fought national campaign for control of the landscape in Congress. With both sides preparing for midterm elections, fire with fire, the Democrats Every state takes a different, sometimes wildly different, approach to district mapping. These are changes that will shape coming legislative sessions, for better or for worse.