A battle between Texas Republicans and California Democrats to augment their political party's advantage in the U.S. House has led politicians in various states to consider ways they, too, could leverage partisan power to rack up more victories in the 2026 congressional elections.
President Donald Trump’s call for Texas to redraw its congressional maps to better ensure Republicans retain control of the House led to a counteroffensive in California, where Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are doing the same thing.
Such redistricting typically occurs once a decade, immediately after a census. But in some states, there is no prohibition on a mid-cycle map makeover. The U.S. Supreme Court also has said there is no federal prohibition on political gerrymandering, in which districts are intentionally drawn to one party's advantage.
The redistricting efforts could play a role in determining control of the U.S. House and, with it, the prospects for Trump's policy goals in the latter half of his term.
Here is a rundown of what states are doing.
Texas Democrats walked out, but Republicans prevailed
Democratic state House members left Texas for two weeks to scuttle a special session on redistricting by preventing a quorum needed to do business. But after that session ended, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called another one — and Democrats returned, satisfied that they had made their point and that California was proceeding with a counter plan.
Republicans currently hold 25 of the 38 congressional seats in Texas. A revised map passed Wednesday by the state House is intended to give Republicans a shot at picking up five additional seats in next year's elections.
Democrats already hold 43 of the 52 congressional seats in California. But similar to Texas, a revised map being considered Thursday in the state Legislature is aimed at giving Democrats a chance to gain five additional seats in the 2026 elections.
Unlike Texas, California has an independent citizens' commission that handles redistricting after the census each decade, so any changes to the commission's map would need to win approval from voters. Democrats plan to hold a referendum on their revised map in a November special election.
Like in Texas, Trump is also pushing Missouri Republicans to redraw the state's U.S. House seats. A document obtained by The Associated Press shows the state Senate has received a $46,000 invoice for software licenses and staff training for redistricting.
While Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe hasn't officially announced a special session, Republican House Majority Leader Alex Riley told the AP it is “pretty likely” to happen. Riley added that he has had discussions with White House staff about it.
Republicans hold six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats. The party could target a Democratic-held district in Kansas City to pick up another seat.
Louisiana lawmakers are being told to keep their calendars open between Oct. 23 and Nov. 13. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Oct. 15 over a challenge to the state's congressional map.
Republican state Rep. Gerald “Beau” Beaullieu, who chairs a House committee that oversees redistricting, told the AP on Thursday that the idea is to have lawmakers available to come back to work in case the Supreme Court issues a ruling quickly.
Republicans currently hold four of Louisiana's six congressional seats.
Because of the way its current districts were enacted, the state constitution requires Republican-led Ohio to adopt new House maps before the 2026 elections. Ohio Democrats are bracing for Republicans to try to expand their 10-5 congressional majority when they meet later this year to redraw maps.
Democrats don’t have much power to stop it. But “we will fight, we will organize, we will make noise at every step of the process,” Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde said Thursday.
New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that redraws districts after every census. But state Democrats have introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has said that if Texas proceeds, “we must do the same.”
But the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the 2028 elections. That is because the proposal would require an amendment to the state constitution, a change that would have to pass the Legislature twice and be approved by voters.
Maryland House Majority Leader David Moon, a Democrat, says he will sponsor legislation to trigger redistricting if Texas or any other state holds redistricting ahead of the census.
Republican state House Speaker Daniel Perez said his chamber will take up redistricting this year through a special committee. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has told the public to “stay tuned” and has reiterated his support for the state joining the redistricting fray.
Vice President JD Vance said he spoke with Republican Gov. Mike Braun as the redistricting melee intensified, but both politicians remained mum about the discussions.
Braun, who would have to call a special session to draw new maps, has said he expects a “broad conversation” with legislative leaders on the move’s constitutionality and said no commitments have been made.
Republican U.S. representatives from Indiana currently outnumber Democrats 7-2.
Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson didn’t rule out trying to redraw the state’s four congressional districts, one of which is held by the state's sole Democratic House representative.
The Legislature's GOP supermajority could do so early next year, which would put the new lines in place before the June 1 candidate filing deadline.
While Republicans control the Legislature, Democrats turned to the courts to try to force a redrawing of congressional districts before the 2026 midterms.
Two lawsuits were filed in July after the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court — without explanation — previously declined to hear challenges directly.
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Associated Press writers Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York; Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan; and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.
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