From California to Maryland, many states are redistricting or considering it, after Texas fired the starting gun on tit-for-tat reshaping of congressional maps.
The future control of the U.S. House of Representatives hangs in the balance as states move to redistrict their congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A spate of redistricting efforts began earlier this year when Texas approved a map that would grow Republicans’ control of the state’s House delegation. California then responded in kind, approving a map to increase Democrats’ control by the same margins.
Since then, a flurry of other states have finalized redistricting, are moving toward doing so, or are considering proposals.
As things stand, Republicans enjoy a slight advantage, standing to gain three more seats than Democrats.
Here’s a breakdown of which states have been doing what, how the math works, the local legal challenges and politics, and what it might mean for the midterms.
States That Have Redistricted Their Maps
Texas
The Lone Star State added five new Republican-leaning districts in response to a letter from the Department of Justice alleging that some districts in the state were unconstitutionally drawn by grouping minorities into a majority. President Donald Trump signaled his support for the state’s redistricting.
The redistricting was not without a battle, though. State Democrats at one point left Texas to prevent a quorum in the state legislature.
The new map prompted Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat, to announce his retirement.
SEAT CHANGE: R+5
California
Voters approved a ballot measure on Nov. 4 to counter Texas’s changes, adding five new Democratic-leaning districts in line with a request from California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The measure, Proposition 50, garnered 64.6 percent support from the state electorate.
Proposition 50 is the subject of a lawsuit by the California Republican Party. The Department of Justice has joined the suit.
SEAT CHANGE: D+5
Missouri
A newly drawn map in the state could help the GOP pick up an additional seat.
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed off on the new map in September after the state legislature approved it.
“Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our values, across both sides of the aisle, are closer to each other than those of the congressional representation of states like New York, California, and Illinois,” he said at the time.
The seat targeted belongs to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.).
The St. Louis seat, held by Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), is protected under the Voting Rights Act.
SEAT CHANGE: R+1
