California and Texas Intensify Redistricting Battles Ahead of 2026 Midterms

With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, California and Texas are locked in a high-stakes struggle to redraw U.S. House maps, a process that could significantly reshape the political landscape. The contentious practice of redistricting, often referred to as gerrymandering, is once again taking center stage as both states seek to gain a partisan advantage.

Texas initiated its moves following a directive from former President Donald Trump, urging Republican-controlled states to adjust district lines to favor GOP voters. This has prompted a swift response from California Democrats, who are poised to approve their own redrawn congressional map, aiming to counter the Republican efforts.

Historically, midterm elections frequently challenge the incumbent president’s party. Trump’s push is seen as an attempt to prevent a repeat of the 2018 midterms, which saw the GOP lose control of the House to Democrats during his first term. The proposed Texas maps, which require approval from the state Senate and Governor Greg Abbott, could potentially add five new seats for Republicans in Congress. Similarly, the maps under consideration by the California Legislature are designed to secure an additional five seats for Democrats.

The process of redistricting, which occurs every decade following the Census Bureau’s population count, allocates the 435 U.S. House seats among the states. While most states create their own district boundaries, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering is constitutionally permissible, provided it is not explicitly based on race. This ruling has opened the door for states to redraw maps mid-decade, a tactic being explored by states like Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio, in addition to California and Texas.

A new California map would notably require voter approval in a special November election, as the state typically employs a nonpartisan commission for redistricting. Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing legal challenges against the new Texas maps, indicating a prolonged battle over these crucial political boundaries.

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