States that have undergone mid-decade redistricting prior to the 2026 elections. Stripes indicate states where redistricting is anticipated but not finalized.
The redistricting began when Texasgerrymandered its congressional map to benefit Republicans at the behest of President Donald Trump. Republican-led states Missouri and North Carolina soon followed by passing new congressional maps with the aim of gaining more Republican seats.
In response, Democratic-led states began the process of gerrymandering their own congressional maps to counter Republican gains. California was the first, passing an amendment to redraw the state's congressional map to benefit Democrats. Virginia and Maryland followed and announced the process to redraw their districts as well.
Additionally, Ohio was required to redraw its districts since the previous map did not receive bipartisan support in the state legislature as required by the Ohio Constitution. Likewise, Utah was required to redraw due to the Utah Supreme Court striking down the current map as an unlawful partisan gerrymander.
Background
Since the beginning of Donald Trump'ssecond presidency, Trump had wanted to protect the narrow Republican US House majority in the 2026 midterm elections to prevent Democratic gains in the House, which would hamper his administration's ability to carry out its plans.[1] Planning among Trump's advisors began even prior to his inauguration, spearheaded by James Blair in contact with Adam Kincaid, the executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust. Blair presented the idea to Trump in April, and he quickly agreed to it.[2]
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee had also begun preparing for the possibility of Republicans redrawing maps mid-decade after Trump's victory in November 2024, harkening back to the aggressive gerrymandering Republicans performed under REDMAP after the 2010 elections.[3] In June, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had called on the Republican leadership in the state of Texas to redistrict the state's legislative boundaries in order to draw more Republican leaning districts.[4] The plan elicited concern from some Texas Republicans, who argued that it could hurt incumbent Republicans.[5]
As the plan began to take action, reporters asked Trump how many Republican-led states would be redistricted; Trump replied with "four of them".[6]
Texas's congressional district boundaries before (left) and after (right) redistricting
On July 9, 2025, Texan Governor Greg Abbott called for a special session of the Texas Legislature to discuss redistricting.[7]
The action was expressed as an action after a letter from the United States Department of Justice citing a need to remedy supposedly racially discriminatory districts in the current congressional map.[8] The action received backlash from Democrat leaders including Ken Martin and began talks to discuss a response to the proposed redistricting, including the possibility of Democratic state representatives walking out of the session to delay the process.[9]
The first special session began on July 21. A new map was redrawn in the session as state Democrats vowed to prolong the redistricting effort and walked out of session preventing quorum from being reached in the state house.[10] On August 18, the special session had expired, and state Democrats returned to the state after viewing the prevention of a new map in the first session and the national coverage of the incidents a "victory".[11]
A second special session was called on August 18 by Abbott. A proposed congressional map drawing 5 new Republican-leaning districts passed both the state house and senate and was signed on August 29, 2025.[12]
On November 18, 2025, a federal court in El Paso, Texas ruled that the maps consisted an illegal racial gerrymander, and as a result, barred their use in the 2026 midterm elections.[13][14] On November 21, the U.S. Supreme Court approved a request filed by Texas to temporarily block the lower court ruling.[15]
On December 4, the Supreme Court stayed the District Court ruling in a 6–3 decision that allows Texas to use the map in 2026, concluding that the District Court had "failed to honor the presumption of legislative good faith by construing ambiguous direct and circumstantial evidence against the legislature" in finding that the map was racially gerrymandered, and had "improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign" because it issued its ruling after the candidate filing period had begun.[16][17] The dissenting opinion, written by Elena Kagan and joined by Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, argued that the majority was not following the appropriate standard of review for questions of fact, stating, "We are a higher court than the District Court, but we are not a better one when it comes to making such a fact-based decision."[18]
California's congressional district boundaries before (left) and after (right) redistricting
Multiple Democratic leaders, including Hakeem Jeffries, began to push California Governor Gavin Newsom to respond to redistricting in Texas by redrawing California's congressional districts; however, the state's use of an Independent Redistricting Commission was the primary obstacle to achieving the goal.[19] To bypass the commission, the state house and state senate passed an amendment putting a referendum on the November ballot to redraw the state's districts. The new congressional map made 5 Republican districts and several competitive districts much more Democratic to offset the gains made by the Texan map.[20]
The measure was approved by voters, enacting the proposed redistricting plan.[21] Following the vote, the California Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit against Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of StateShirley Weber, alleging that the new maps violate the Voting Rights Act by favoring Latino voters and asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent Proposition 50’s maps from going into effect.[22] The U.S. Justice Department has joined the California Republican Party's lawsuit.[23] In January 2026, a three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Central District of California upheld the use of the map by the state, rejecting the California Republican Party's claims that the map was racially gerrymandered.[24][25]
Missouri's congressional district boundaries before (left) and after (right) redistricting
On August 29, 2025, Governor Mike Kehoe announced a special session to redraw the state's congressional districts and place Kansas City Democrat Emanuel Cleaver in a much more Republican-leaning district.[26] The Missouri House of Representatives voted to advance the new map that would give Republicans another seat, which was approved in the Missouri Senate, where it also advanced. The new map was signed into law by Kehoe on September 28.[27]
The new map faces lawsuits and a citizens' initiative ballot measure that will suspend the map unless it is approved by voters.
North Carolina's congressional district boundaries before (left) and after (right) redistricting
In October, North Carolina Republicans led in the state legislature. Destin Hall and Phil Berger introduced a plan to redraw North Carolina's congressional map to make Don Davis's seat more favorable to Republicans in the hopes of increasing the party's chances of picking up the seat. The measure passed both the State House and State Senate and became law, as it did not require Democratic governor Josh Stein's signature.[28] On November 26, a panel of three federal judges issued a ruling allowing the use of the map.[29]
Utah's congressional district boundaries before (left) and after (right) redistricting
In July 2023, in League of Women Voters v. Utah State Legislature, the Utah Supreme Court heard arguments alleging that the Utah Legislature violated a citizen-passed anti-gerrymandering proposition by dividing Salt Lake County voters into all four of Utah's districts. The case was sent back to a state district court, which held a hearing on January 31, 2025. A ruling for the League of Women Voters was issued on August 25. New maps were expected to be drawn up by the Legislature by September 24 and finalized by November. [citation needed]
On October 6, the Utah Legislature passed a new map, which changed two Republican districts to be more competitive. On November 10, Utah Third District Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that the new map also violated Proposition 4, opting to approve a plaintiff-submitted alternative, Map 1, which creates a safe Democratic district comprising a majority of Salt Lake County. [citation needed]
In October 2025, Indiana Governor Mike Braun called for a special legislative session to begin November 3 to redraw the state's congressional maps.[30] This came after weeks of communication with the Trump administration, including visits by Vice President JD Vance, over the possibility of strengthening the partisan advantage in the state.[31] This push was met with resistance from legislative Republicans, particularly in the Indiana Senate.[32]
On November 14, Indiana Senate leader Rodric Bray announced there were not enough Republican votes to move forward with the redistricting process.[33] On November 18, the Senate voted to adjourn until the next regular session in January 2026.[34][35] On December 5, the Indiana House passed a map that would turn the state's 1st and 7th congressional districts, both held by Democrats, into solidly Republican ones.[36]
On December 8, the Senate convened after reversing its earlier decision to adjourn, and the new maps passed out of committee.[37][38] On December 11, the proposal was rejected in the State Senate after opposition from 21 Republicans and all 10 Democrats, ending the redistricting effort in Indiana.[39]
President Donald Trump threatened to support the primary opponents of any Republican who did not support the redistricting effort.[40] Numerous people have been swatted.[41]
In late October, Democratic leaders in Virginia announced a process to redraw their state's congressional maps before the 2026 midterms in retaliation for the new map passed in North Carolina. Virginia, similarly to California, has a commission to redraw its congressional districts, and Virginia state leaders had proposed a constitutional amendment to bypass the commission and approve a new congressional map, likely gaining Democrats three or four seats.[42]
In Virginia, constitutional amendments have to be approved by the legislature in two consecutive legislative sessions, with a general election in between them, prior to being sent to the public for final passage. On October 29, the Virginia House of Delegates passed the amendment on a party line vote. The state Senate followed suit on October 31.[43]
Democrats greatly expanded their majority in the House of Delegates in the 2025 election, thus easing the passage of the amendment.[44] On January 16, 2026, the Senate passed the constitutional amendment a second time, following the House of Delegates which had done so earlier in the week.[45] Legislators planned to release a new map to the public by the end of January, and to call a special election to vote on the measure by April 16.[46]
It was passed in a special session which was called for budget reasons, not constitutional amendments, meaning lawmakers were acting out of scope.
Lawmakers did not publish the amendment on courthouses and courthouse websites three or more months prior to the election.
The requirement for constitutional amendments to be passed both before and after a general election was invalid as early voting had already begun for the state's 2025 elections by the time of passage.[47][48]
Virginia Democratic leaders condemned the decision and announced an intention to appeal the ruling. Later that day, the Virginia Senate passed a bill that would repeal the provision requiring for the publication of the amendment three months before the election and redirect the appeal process from the Court of Appeals of Virginia to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, which is expected to rule in favor of the Democratic efforts.[49]
Maryland
In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore and now former House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones have expressed openness to examining potential changes, particularly regarding the state's sole Republican-held seat, including the possibility of calling a special legislative session on the issue. State Senate President Bill Ferguson reiterated his opposition in an October 2025 letter to colleagues, arguing that mid-decade redistricting could undermine the state’s legal standing and public trust.[50]
On November 4, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore formed of the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Commission, tasked with holding public hearings and providing recommendations for a new congressional map. The creation of the commission signaled an effort by state Democrats to consider redrawing Maryland’s congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections, potentially to offset Republican gains in other states. The five-member commission, chaired by U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, also includes two gubernatorial appointees and two legislative leaders or their designees.[51][52] On December 18, 2025, the commission voted to recommend that the state move forward with considering new congressional boundary maps,[53] and on January 20, 2026, the commission voted to recommend a congressional map that would redraw the 1st congressional district to make it more favorable for Democrats.[54] The map passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a 99–37 vote on February 2, 2026,[55] after which Senate President Bill Ferguson indicated that he was unlikely to hold a vote for the redistricting bill in the Senate.[56]
On January 7, 2026, DeSantis officially issued a proclamation calling for a special legislative session regarding congressional redistricting. The session is scheduled to convene from April 20-24, 2026, following the conclusion of the regular legislative session. In the proclamation, DeSantis cited the need to comply with an upcomingU.S. Supreme Court ruling and stated that the legislature would appropriate additional funds to defend the new maps against legal challenges.[59]
Governor Kathy Hochul had previously pledged to involve New York in the national redistricting conflict to counter Republican gains elsewhere.[60] In January 2026, a judge struck down the boundaries of New York City's sole Republican-held district, ruling that the lines violated the Voting Rights Act.[61] The ruling provides an opening for the state legislature to redraw the state's congressional map, a move that could potentially net the Democratic Party four to five additional seats.[60]
Potential expansion
In Kansas, Republican leaders in the state legislature approved the budget for a special session on redistricting. The process was stalled as Republican lawmakers did not have enough votes to begin the process.[62] Legislative leadership has stated that a new map will be passed during regular session in January 2026. However, as of January 6, the Republicans were about "20 votes short" in the Kansas House of Representatives, due to Laura Kelly’s veto power.[63]
Meanwhile, Democratic House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries has been urging the states of Illinois and Maryland to pursue new congressional maps as part of a broader Democratic strategy to counter Republican redistricting gains.[64] In Illinois, state legislative leaders have been skeptical of redrawing their congressional lines, arguing it isn't possible, although Jeffries has continued to lobby for action.[65] Governor JB Pritzker emphasized that any decision on whether Illinois should redraw its congressional map would depend on Indiana’s actions, noting that the state was “watching what Indiana does” before considering any response.[66]
In Colorado, a constitutional amendment has been proposed which would give the governor (currently Democrat Jared Polis) "emergency redistricting authority" ahead of the 2028 elections. The proposed law would be triggered if "substantial evidence exists that one or more states have enacted congressional redistricting plans that result in severe partisan imbalance."[67]
In Washington, House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon and Representative Sharlett Mena introduced a joint resolution that would amend the constitution of Washington. The amendment would permit the Washington State Legislature to redraw the state's congressional lines if another state redrew their map mid-decade outside of a judicial order. The Olympian reported that the Washington Democratic Party does not have the prerequisite two-thirds majority in both chambers and would require votes from Republicans to pass the resolution, making it unlikely to pass before the 2026 elections.[69]
There has also been pressure on New Hampshire to redistrict to give Republicans an extra seat. However, governor Kelly Ayotte said she will not pursue redistricting.[70]
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