Dems derided Trump’s midterm gamble — until he ended up winning big

Redistricting Maps Advance in Multiple States Ahead of 2026 Midterms

One year ago this week, Texas enacted a new congressional district map as part of an effort led by President Donald Trump to adjust boundaries before the 2026 midterm elections. The map increased the number of districts favoring Republican candidates. One year later, Republicans have secured a net gain of at least 10 additional seats leaning toward their party through redistricting changes in several states.

Mid-decade redistricting, which involves altering district lines outside the standard post-census cycle, has occurred in prior decades under both Republican and Democratic control in various states, though it remains uncommon. Legal challenges have accompanied recent efforts in multiple jurisdictions.

Democratic officials and commentators criticized the Texas process. Former MSNBC anchor Joy Reid described it as a "Voting Rights 911" and titled a segment "Texas’s War on Democracy Through Gerrymandering." HBO host John Oliver characterized gerrymandering as manipulating maps "to get the outcome you want" and placing "a heavy thumb on the scale of who gets elected." Fox News Digital contacted representatives for Reid and Oliver but received no responses by publication.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called a Supreme Court ruling permitting the Texas map a victory for a "rigged map" intended to shield Republicans from accountability. California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that his state would not remain inactive while Trump and Republicans altered maps. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the actions aimed to erode democratic processes.

Republican strategist Colin Reed noted that California under Newsom had eliminated at least five Republican-leaning seats through its own redistricting. He stated that both parties pursued similar objectives in mid-decade adjustments, though Democratic efforts proved less successful in several cases.

National Democratic Redistricting Committee Executive Director John Bisognano said elected leaders in every state should respond to attempts to control congressional seats for an extended period. He called for maps that reflect voter preferences.

Republican-led states including Florida, Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina implemented new maps. In Missouri, a judge permitted a map supported by Trump and passed by state lawmakers to take effect for November elections.

Setbacks occurred for Republican efforts as well. A Utah district judge rejected a map drawn by the Republican legislature and approved an alternative creating a Democratic-leaning district. Indiana’s state Senate declined to advance a redistricting bill that had passed the House.

Democratic efforts faced reversals in other states. The Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a ballot measure from the Democrat-controlled legislature that could have created up to four additional Democratic-leaning seats. A Maryland court blocked placement of a Democratic-backed redistricting amendment on the November ballot, which would have allowed lawmakers to redraw maps before the 2028 elections.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting the use of race as a primary factor in drawing legislative districts under the Voting Rights Act. This decision permitted several Republican-controlled Southern states to proceed with map revisions.

New York has begun steps toward potential redistricting for the 2028 cycle. Maryland’s setback followed its earlier consideration of similar changes. Georgia, under Republican control of the governorship and legislature, has discussed possible adjustments.

Bisognano stated that the process initiated in Texas continues, with expectations of further demands for maps favoring Republicans. He urged states to adopt maps responsive to the composition of the electorate.

The current House majority remains narrow, and the November elections will determine partisan control following these map changes. Historical records show both parties have initiated mid-decade redistricting when holding state legislative majorities, with outcomes varying by state and subject to judicial review.