Texas Republicans introduced a proposed set of new House lines on Wednesday, placing the occasion one step nearer to gaining 5 seats in 2026.
The brand new proposed map is prone to most straight affect lawmakers located close to or within the Dallas-Fort Price space, Austin, Houston and the southern border, as Republicans look to internet 5 seats in subsequent yr’s midterms.
Texas’s resolution to redistrict its traces has additionally started a domino effect, prompting different pink and blue states to think about redrawing their very own traces in the course of the last decade. The redistricting conflict may have implications for which occasion holds the Home majority subsequent yr.
Listed here are the states to look at within the redistricting battle heading into 2026:
Texas
President Trump is vying to have Republicans choose up quite a lot of seats within the Lone Star State as Republicans brace for an unfavorable midterm setting. Texas lawmakers are convening for a particular session over 18 agenda gadgets, together with redistricting.
GOP lawmakers introduced a new map on Wednesday that might probably assist give their occasion extra of a cushion subsequent yr.
The brand new map would create 5 new Home seats that might have voted for Trump by double digits in final November’s election, giving Texas Republicans the chance to develop their majority from 25 Home members to 30.
The brand new proposed map most instantly impacts Democratic Reps. Marc Veasey within the Dallas-Forth Price space, Julie Johnson within the Dallas space, Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett within the Austin space, Al Inexperienced close to Houston, and Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar close to the southern border.
Ohio
Ohio lawmakers are required to redraw their Home map this yr after the 2022 maps did not obtain bipartisan assist.
The Buckeye State has a congressional delegation of 10 Home Republicans and 5 Home Democrats. Two of probably the most weak Democrats who may see their Home districts get even harder are Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes in Ohio’s ninth and thirteenth Congressional Districts, respectively.
Rep. Greg Landsman (Ohio) is one other Democrat who may see his district redrawn extra competitively in Ohio’s 1st Congressional District. Republicans face a harder highway to creating his district tougher to carry because the state structure prohibits lawmakers from breaking apart Cincinnati.
California
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is weighing a number of choices for a way the Golden State may do its personal midcycle redistricting in response to Texas’s transfer to redraw its maps.
California Democrats may put the problem earlier than voters by way of a poll measure.
Another path could be to work by way of the state Legislature. Newsom has famous previously that the state structure is silent on potential midcycle redistricting, which may provide lawmakers a possible loophole to redraw their maps.
Newsom, who met with Texas Democrats on Friday, mentioned any transfer could be “predicated on Texas shifting ahead.”
New York
New York lawmakers are taking steps towards permitting the state to redistrict midcycle if want be.
New York State Meeting member Micah Lasher (D) and state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D) are proposing legislation that might enable the Empire State to redraw Home traces in response to a different state present process midcycle redistricting.
New York additionally makes use of a redistricting fee to craft its maps, however it’s topic to the Legislature’s approval.
Democrats are contending with a serious hurdle. To ensure that the state structure to be amended, the hassle would must be handed in two consecutive periods, after which voters would then weigh in on the poll measure.
That may imply Democrats wouldn’t be capable of redraw their Home maps forward of 2026.
Florida
The Florida Supreme Court docket not too long ago upheld a problem to the state’s present map, which broke up former Rep. Al Lawson’s (D-Fla.) district into three which are represented by Republicans.
However Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) prompt, regardless of that win, the state ought to think about drawing new Home maps.
“I feel if you happen to take a look at that Florida Supreme Court docket evaluation, there could also be extra defects that must be remedied aside from what we’ve already executed,” DeSantis said last week.
“I additionally suppose the way in which the inhabitants has shifted round Florida simply because the census was executed in 2020, I feel the state was malapportioned,” he continued. “So I do suppose it could be applicable to do a redistricting right here within the middecade.”
Missouri
Missouri Republican leaders say they’re getting pressure from the Trump White Home to undertake midcycle redistricting of their state as Republicans look to offset potential losses within the 2026 midterms and as Democratic states mull redrawing their very own traces in response to Texas.
Some Republicans have said they assist redrawing the traces, whereas others are reluctant to revisit the problem.
New Jersey
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) mentioned earlier this month when requested about redistricting in New Jersey that it was “too early to make any definitive assertion about it.” However he left the door open to the chance.
“No information to make, aside from I’ll quote Sean Connery from ‘The Untouchables’: ‘By no means carry a knife to a gunfight,'” Murphy mentioned. “So, if that’s the way in which we’re going, we’re from Jersey, child, and we received’t be laying down.”
Like New York and California, New Jersey additionally makes use of a redistricting fee to craft its maps and would seemingly require a constitutional modification to ensure that lawmakers to redraw the maps.
Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker (D) met with Texas legislators final week and likewise left the door open to potential midcycle redistricting. Illinois doesn’t use a redistricting fee and solely requires its lawmakers to move its maps by way of the Legislature — providing a better pathway with fewer logistical hurdles to do redraw their Home traces.
“The whole lot is on the desk,” Pritzker mentioned on Friday. “We have to protect democracy.”
Maryland
Maryland Home Majority Chief David Moon (D) introduced a bill that might enable the state to pursue midcycle redistricting if one other state adopts new Home traces in the course of the last decade.
Maryland operates much like Illinois in that maps solely must be drawn and accepted by state legislators. A spokesperson for Gov. Wes Moore (D) told The New York Times final week that the governor would “proceed to guage all choices.”
Indiana
Republicans are additionally considering potential redistricting in Indiana, although it is unclear if the same push will happen within the Hoosier State.