The battlefield is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest between states seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections.
end Maryland legislative session This week marked the end of Democratic efforts to reconfigure the state’s U.S. House districts. But Florida lawmakers are scheduled to begin a special session on Monday for Republicans’ attempt to redistrict congressional districts. On Tuesday, Virginia voters will decide on a Democratic redistricting plan that could help the party win several additional House seats in this year’s elections.
Voting districts are usually redrawn once a decade, after each census. But President Donald Trump has sparked an unusual round of… Redistricting in the middle of the decade Last year when Urging Republicans in Texas Redrawing House districts to give the Republican Party an advantage in the midterm elections. Democrats in California responded in kind, and redistricting efforts quickly rolled across the states.
So far, Republicans believe they can win an additional nine seats in states where they redrawn their electoral districts, while Democrats believe they can win six seats elsewhere due to redistricting. But this is assumed Past voting patterns Held in November. This is uncertain, especially since the party in power usually loses seats in the midterm elections and Trump faces negative approval ratings in opinion polls.
Democrats need to win a few seats in November to wrest control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, which could allow them to block Trump’s agenda.
Officials in more than a dozen states have discussed or put forward redistricting proposals. The immediate focus is on two states — one led by Republicans, the other led by Democrats.
Current map: Eight Democrats, 20 Republicans
Proposed Map: Called by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis Special legislative session To begin on Monday, the redistricting of electoral districts in Congress. Republicans have not yet announced a specific plan.
Challenges: The state constitution states that districts may not be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.
Current map: Six Democrats and five Republicans
Proposed map: A New American House Map The bill passed by the Democratic-led General Assembly could help Democrats win up to four additional seats. For the map to become effective, voters must approve a Constitutional amendment Allowing redistricting in the middle of the decade. This amendment is up for a vote on Tuesday.
Challenges: The state Supreme Court ruled It is possible to go ahead with a referendum, but it has not yet been determined whether these efforts are legal. The court is considering an appeal of the ruling issued by the Tazewell County judge The amendment is invalid Because lawmakers violated their own rules while passing it.
New U.S. House districts have been approved in six states since last summer. Four of them undertook the redistricting process voluntarily, while one was required by the state constitution and the other did so by court order.
Current map: 13 Democrats, 25 Republicans
New map: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed A Revised house map The law went into effect last August, which could help Republicans win five additional seats.
Challenges: US Supreme Court in December It paved the way for new areas For use in this year’s elections. It suspended the ruling of the court of first instance New map blocked Because he was “racially manipulated.”
Current map: 43 Democrats, nine Republicans
New map: Voters in November Certified amended House districts It was drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature that could help Democrats win five additional seats.
Challenges: US Supreme Court in February Allow the use of new areas In this year’s elections. deny call From Republicans and the Justice Department, which alleged that counties impermissibly favored Hispanic voters.
Current map: Two Democrats and six Republicans
New map: Signed by Republican Governor Mike Kehoe Revised house map The law went into effect last September, which may help Republicans win an additional seat.
Challenges: Cole County judge rules The new map is in effect While election officials work to determine whether a referendum petition seeking a statewide vote meets constitutional standards and contains enough valid signatures on the petition. Missouri Supreme Court Dismiss the case Claim that mid-decade redistricting is illegal. Arguments are scheduled to be heard in May on claims that the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be suspended pending a potential referendum.
Current map: Four Democrats and 10 Republicans
New map: Republican-led General Assembly He gave final approval in October to revised districts that could help Republicans win an additional seat.
Challenges: a Federal court panel In November, a request to prevent the use of modified districts in midterm elections was rejected.
Current map: Five Democrats and 10 Republicans
New map: A bipartisan panel of primarily Republicans in October voted in favor Approval of the amended House of Representatives districts Which improves the Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.
Challenges: none. The state constitution requires new districts to be created before the 2026 election, because Republicans approved the previous map without enough Democratic support after the last census.
Current map: No Democrats, four Republicans
New map: Judge in November Revised House districts imposed That could help Democrats win a seat. The court ruled that lawmakers circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the previous map.
Challenges: a Federal court panel and State Supreme CourtIn February, both of them rejected Republican appeals to choose the judicial map.
Governors, legislators or party officials have pushed for redistricting of congressional districts in many states. In at least five states, these efforts gained some initial momentum, but ultimately failed in either the legislature or the court.
Current map: seven Democrats and one Republican
Proposed map: Democratic-led House in February The redistricting plan passed Support from Democratic Gov. Wes Moore could help Democrats win an additional seat.
Challenges: The April legislative session ended without the Democratic-led Senate voting on the redistricting plan. The state Senate president said there are concerns this could backfire on Democrats.
Current map: 19 Democrats, seven Republicans
Proposed Map: Judge in January The State Commission ordered the drawing of new boundaries For New York City’s only congressional district represented by a Republican, the ruling unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of black and Hispanic residents.
Challenges: The US Supreme Court in March granted Republicans’ request Stop the judge’s orderleaving the current district lines in place for the 2026 election.
Current map: Two Democrats and seven Republicans
Proposed Map: The Republican-led House approved A Redistricting plan In December, that would have improved Republicans’ chances of winning two additional seats.
Challenges: Despite pressure from Trump to adopt the new map, the Republican-led Senate He rejected it on a bipartisan vote On December 11th.
Current map: one Democrat and three Republicans
Proposed Map: Some Republican lawmakers have made an attempt to adopt a redistricting process in Congress.
Challenges: Legislators He dropped a petition drive To hold a special session on redistricting in Congress in November, after failing to obtain sufficient support.
Current map: 14 Democrats, three Republicans
Proposed Map: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in October proposed a new map for the US House of Representatives that would improve Democrats’ chances of winning an additional seat.
Challenges: The Democratic-led General Assembly has declined to take up the redistricting process, citing concerns about the impact on the representation of Black residents.