A partisan move by Texas to redraw its congressional maps before the 2026 elections to try to secure five more Republican seats in the U.S. House has set off a clamor to replicate the effort by Democrats and Republicans in other states.
So far, California is the only other state to take significant steps toward a mid-decade redistricting.
Changing congressional maps in a bid to ensure one party’s victory over another — called gerrymandering — has typically been done more furtively, and immediately after a census. But President Donald Trump's call for Texas to redraw the maps to better ensure that Republicans retain control of the House has blown the lid off the practice. Trump is trying to avoid losing control of Congress and, with it, prospects for his policy goals in the latter part of his term.
Here is a rundown of what states are doing.
Texas Democrats return after two-week walkout
Democratic state House members left Texas for two weeks to scuttle a special session on redistricting. But after that session ended Friday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called another one.
Democrats returned to the Capitol on Monday, satisfied they had made their point after California Democrats released proposed maps intended to increase Democrats’ advantage there by five seats, effectively neutralizing any Republican gains in Texas.
Their return allows Texas Republicans to press forward with redistricting.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that the state will move forward with its own congressional redistricting. A proposal released Friday the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee would reshape House district lines to strengthen the Democratic advantage in that state.
Unlike Texas, California has an independent commission that handles redistricting after the census each 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.
Lawmakers are meeting this week to consider a redistricting plan to put to voters at a November special election.
At Trump's urging and partly in response to California's threats, Missouri's Republican majority is preparing for a special session on congressional redistricting
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.
In justifying the redistricting, Missouri Republicans accused neighboring Illinois of rigging its maps and pointed to Democratic-tilted maps elsewhere.
New York, similar to California, has an independent commission that changes the political maps only after every census. But state Democrats have introduced legislation to allow mid-decade redistricting.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul 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.
Republicans face more limited possibilities of squeezing out another GOP seat in Indiana. Republican U.S. representatives outnumber Democrats 7-2 in the state already.
Because of the way its current districts were enacted, the state constitution requires Republican-led Ohio to adopt new House maps before the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP already holds 10 of the 15 House seats and could try to expand that edge.
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 Democrat 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 district boundary lines 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 Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan, and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.
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