The Redistricting Wars Won’t Stop With The Midterms

A strong performance for Democrats in 2026 could give them more opportunities to draw congressional lines in their favor.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – President Donald Trump and Republicans started the redistricting wars. Democrats might finish them.

Even as both parties continue to push state legislatures around the country to redraw their maps before the 2026 midterm elections, governors and candidates at the Democratic Governors’ Association here indicated the nationwide arms race started by Trump would not stop with this election cycle, with the party potentially taking advantage of midterm gains to draw new lines in critical states.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was committed to pushing through a constitutional amendment giving the state the power to temporarily bypass its independent redistricting commission before the 2028 elections, even if Republicans backed down from their plans to draw new lines.

“Texas is done, isn’t it?” Hochul told HuffPost, referring to the red state which drew new maps aiming to net Republicans more seats at Trump’s urging. “And that’s five seats.”

If the redistricting wars stretch into the 2028 election cycle, there is significant upside for Democrats, whose desire to respond to the GOP’s mid-decade gerrymandering has been limited by independent redistricting commissions in states like New York and Colorado. With Trump’s approval rating near all-time lows and the political winds at their back, Democrats are optimistic about gaining total control of state government in four other states where they would be free to draw more favorable lines.