Several states consider redrawing congressional maps after Texas kicks
off fight
[August 06, 2025]
By JESSE BEDAYN
Texas Republicans' push to redraw congressional maps to secure five more
GOP seats in the U.S. House has kicked off a no-holds-barred battle
between blue and red states, each threatening to redraw their own House
seats.
The process of changing congressional maps to ensure one party's victory
over another — called gerrymandering — has typically been done more
furtively, with parties fearing a backlash from voters wary of a rigged
system.
But President Donald Trump's call for Texas to blatantly redraw the maps
to better ensure that Republicans retain control of the House in the
2026 elections has blown the lid off of the practice.
Gerrymandering, once a feared accusation, has now become a battle cry.
Here are the states now considering early redistricting.
Texas kicked it off, but Democrats fled the state
Dozens of Democrats left Texas in a Hail Mary to halt a vote on
redistricting, leaving the legislature without enough lawmakers present
— called a quorum — to proceed.
Democrats, who didn't show up for a second day Tuesday, wouldn't have
the votes to stop the bill otherwise.
In response, Gov. Gregg Abbott and fellow Republicans are threatening
the Democrats who left with arrests, fines and removal from office.
The state Attorney General Ken Paxton warned he could ask the courts to
vacate their seats if they don’t show up when the House convenes on
Friday. Trump and Texas Sen. John Cornyn have also asked the FBI to get
involved.
Still, past efforts by Democrats to abscond and deny Republicans a
quorum only delayed the passage of bills, but didn't quash them.
Through it all, Abbott has been adamant that redrawing districts with
political bias is legal.
California Democrats propose retaliation
In response to events in Texas, Democrats in California are considering
a draft proposal to reshape their own district maps and cut away five
Republican seats while securing more precarious seats already held by
Democrats.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has been outspoken about wanting partisan
redistricting if Texas moves ahead with its plans.
Unlike Texas, however, California has an independent commission that
handles redistricting after the census every decade, which is typically
when districts are reshaped to account for population shifts.
Any changes would first need the approval of state lawmakers and voters.
Newsom said he'd call a special election in November for California
residents to do just that.
Missouri's governor under pressure from Trump
The Trump administration wants Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special
legislative session for congressional redistricting in favor of
Republicans.
Kehoe has expressed interest in doing so, discussing it with Republican
legislative leaders, but has not made a decision.
Republicans now hold six of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, and the
GOP could pick up another by reshaping a Kansas City area district held
by a Democrat.
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Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a
session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in
Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
New York Democrats try to change state law
New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that
redistricts only after the census. Last week, state Democrats
introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said if Texas proceeds, “we must do the
same.”
The proposal, however, would require an amendment to the state
constitution, a change that would have to pass the legislature twice
and be approved by voters.
That means the soonest new maps could be in place would be for the
2028 elections.
Wisconsin Democrats try a different tact
While Republicans control the legislature in the battleground state,
Democrats turned to the courts to try to force a redrawing of
congressional district boundary lines before the 2026 midterms.
A pair of lawsuits were filed in July after the liberal-controlled
Wisconsin Supreme Court previously declined to hear challenges
directly, without saying why.
Maryland Democrats promise a response to Texas
The House Majority leader, David Moon, a Democrat, says he will
sponsor legislation to trigger redistricting in Maryland if Texas or
any other state holds redistricting ahead of the census.
Florida's governor hints at support for redistricting
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he was considering early
redistricting and “working through what that would look like.”
Ohio must redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms
That's because a law in the Republican-led state requires it before
the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP holds 10 of its 15 House seats
already, and could try to expand that edge.
Indiana's governor will speak with the Vice President J.D. Vance
Republican Gov. Mike Braun told reporters Tuesday that Vance will
visit Indiana to discuss several matters, including redistricting in
the solidly GOP state.
Braun, who would have to call a special session to draw new maps,
said he expects a “broad conversation” with legislative leaders on
the constitutionality of such a move and said no commitments have
yet been made.
“It looks like it’s going to happen across many Republican states,”
Braun said in a video by WRTV in Indianapolis.
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Associated Press writers Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York,
Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, David Lieb in Jefferson City,
Missouri, Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan, and Brian Witte in
Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.
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