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A push by Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts and lock in five more GOP seats has triggered a coast-to-coast political firestorm, as red and blue states alike move to reshape the U.S. House map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — years before the next census.
The escalation began after President Donald Trump publicly called on Texas lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional lines to cement Republican control of the House. “We need to be aggressive in securing our majority,” Trump told supporters last week. “Redistricting is part of that fight.”
The move has blown the lid off a process once conducted behind closed doors, making gerrymandering a rallying cry instead of a quiet maneuver. Now, both Democratic and Republican states are considering extraordinary mid-decade redistricting measures, challenging political norms and likely setting up a wave of court battles.
Texas Democrats Flee to Block Vote
Texas ignited the firestorm earlier this month when Republican lawmakers advanced a plan to redraw the state’s 38 congressional districts. In a dramatic effort to halt the process, dozens of Democratic lawmakers fled the state, denying the GOP-controlled legislature a quorum.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) responded by threatening the absent Democrats with arrest, fines, and even possible removal from office. “If they don’t show up Friday, we will ask the courts to vacate their seats,” Paxton said. Trump and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) have also called on the FBI to investigate the Democratic lawmakers.
Despite the uproar, political analysts say Texas Democrats are unlikely to prevent the plan from eventually passing — just delay it. “This is theater, but the GOP has the votes,” said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones.
Abbott has defended the GOP’s redistricting strategy, arguing that political bias in district lines is legal — a position supported by several past Supreme Court rulings.
Blue States Move to Retaliate
In response, Democratic leaders in deep-blue states like California, New York, and Maryland are proposing their own aggressive redistricting measures.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is backing a proposal to cut away five Republican seats by reshaping districts, despite the state’s constitutionally mandated independent redistricting commission. To override it, Newsom said he would call a special election this November to give voters a chance to approve changes.
New York Democrats have proposed a constitutional amendment to allow redistricting before the next census. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said, “If Texas moves forward, we must do the same.” The earliest New York could implement new maps would be in 2028, as the amendment must pass the legislature twice and go before voters.
In Maryland, House Majority Leader David Moon (D) pledged to introduce legislation to trigger redistricting if Texas or any other state proceeds with new maps ahead of the census.
Red States Fall in Line — or Face Pressure
The Trump administration is also pressuring other Republican governors to follow Texas’ lead.
In Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) is weighing a special session to redraw congressional lines that could flip a Kansas City-area district held by a Democrat. “It’s on the table,” a senior GOP strategist said.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has hinted he supports early redistricting and is “working through what that would look like.” Florida already gained a GOP seat in the 2022 redistricting round.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) said he would meet with Vice President J.D. Vance to discuss the constitutional issues around redistricting. “It looks like it’s going to happen across many Republican states,” Braun told reporters Tuesday.
Ohio, already under a state law requiring maps to be redrawn before the 2026 elections, could see further Republican gains. The GOP currently holds 10 of 15 seats and is eyeing more.
Legal Battles Loom in Swing States
In Wisconsin, where Republicans control the legislature but Democrats hold the governorship and courts, a legal battle is already underway. Two lawsuits filed in July challenge the state’s current congressional boundaries and push for a redraw before 2026. The liberal-controlled state Supreme Court previously declined to hear similar suits directly.
The Bigger Picture: A Mid-Decade Map War
Redistricting has historically followed the U.S. Census every 10 years, but Trump’s aggressive call for early partisan map changes has transformed it into a new front in America’s political arms race.
“This is a gerrymandering arms race,” said Michael Li, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice. “If Texas redraws early, then blue states will try to match — and the courts will be left to sort out the mess.”
Analysts expect a barrage of legal challenges in the coming months, with the Supreme Court likely to be asked to weigh in — again — on the constitutionality of mid-decade partisan redistricting.
