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The primary primaries for the 2026 midterm elections are scheduled for early March. For Republican and Democratic state lawmakers nonetheless making an attempt to redraw district maps for the U.S. Home of Representatives, the place Republicans have a razor-thin margin, there may be not a lot time left.
Whereas authorized challenges stay — together with a probably seismic Supreme Courtroom choice on the Voting Rights Act — here’s a breakdown of states the place maps affecting November’s election have already been redone, or states have taken motion to make adjustments.
These states have modified their maps
Texas might add 5 Republican seats within the midterms
The primary group to heed President Trump’s name final 12 months to reshape Congress was the Republican majority in Texas.
Democrats staged a two-week walkout, arguing that the brand new districts would illegally dilute Black and Hispanic illustration. However Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the measure into regulation in August, and the Supreme Courtroom upheld the map in December.
California might add 5 Democratic seats
In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, persuaded the legislature in August, and voters in November, to counterpunch.
The Supreme Courtroom, echoing its Texas order, upheld California’s new map in February, dismissing Republican claims that it illegally favored Latino voters.
Missouri might add 1 Republican seat
Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, in late September signed into regulation a brand new map that will cut up Kansas Metropolis, a Democratic stronghold, into rural and largely Republican districts.
Republicans hope to oust the longtime Consultant Emanuel Cleaver, who was the primary Black mayor of Kansas Metropolis. However lawsuits are in progress.
North Carolina might add 1 Republican seat
The Republican-controlled legislature authorised a brand new map in October that imperils the re-election probabilities of Consultant Don Davis, a Democrat, who represents the northeastern nook of the state.
Underneath the state Structure, Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, can’t veto the brand new map.
Ohio might add 1 to 2 Republican seats
Even earlier than Mr. Trump’s push, Ohio was required, underneath its state Structure, to redraw its congressional maps. So in October, a state fee authorised plans to dilute Democratic-held districts close to Toledo and Cincinnati.
Utah might add 1 Democratic seat
A state decide in November tossed out a map drawn by the Republican-dominated legislature as being unfairly tilted in opposition to Democrats. The decide then adopted an alternate proposed by a centrist group that preserved a Democratic-leaning district surrounding Salt Lake Metropolis.
The Utah legislature has appealed to the Utah Supreme Courtroom, whereas two of state’s congressional Republicans have filed a federal lawsuit to void the map.
These states are attempting to vary their maps
Florida might add 2 to 4 Republican seats within the midterms
Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has proposed {that a} particular legislative session be convened in late April on redistricting. Republicans, who management a lot of the state’s congressional seats, are eyeing a achieve of two to 4 extra in central and South Florida.
Virginia might add 2 to 4 Democratic seats
The Democratic legislature has handed a constitutional modification permitting lawmakers to redraw congressional districts earlier than the midterms. If voters say sure to a referendum on April 21, the Democrats might internet between two and 4 seats underneath a proposed new map.
A state decide initially blocked the hassle to vary the map. However the Virginia Supreme Courtroom has allowed the referendum to proceed, and says that it’s going to rule afterward on whether or not the plan is authorized.
New York might add 1 Democratic seat
A state decide has dominated {that a} district represented by Nicole Malliotakis, New York Metropolis’s solely Republican member of Congress, disenfranchises Black and Latino voters. The decide has ordered an impartial redistricting fee to provide you with new maps for the district, which incorporates Staten Island and a part of Brooklyn. Republicans are interesting.
Maryland might add 1 Democratic seat
In Maryland, a latecomer, the Home of Delegates has authorised a plan that will ask voters to ratify new congressional boundaries in November — whereas additionally selecting the candidates to symbolize these districts.
The State Senate seems reluctant, up to now. But when the plan proceeds, Democrats might flip what’s now a 7-1 benefit into 8-0.
Reporting contributed by Nick Corasaniti.
