The redistricting arms race sparked by President Donald Trump’s push to draw new congressional lines in Texas has both parties scrambling to rethink the political map. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed off on a map that could give Republicans five more congressional seats, and at least seven other states are potential targets for mid-decade map tweaks ahead of the midterms. California was the second state to produce a new map, which would counter the GOP shifts in Texas with five more seats favorable to Democrats if voters approve the plan in a November special election.
Republican-led legislatures in Missouri and Utah have also approved new boundaries, both of which could still face legal pushback. A bipartisan commission in Ohio is the latest to approve of new boundaries.
But implementing new maps is easier said than done. Many states are bound by laws that dictate when and how redistricting can happen. States typically draw new district lines once a decade, after each census, or if a map is struck down in court. There is also a tight timeline to get changes into place before the midterms in 2026.
Republicans hold a 219-212 House majority, with four vacancies, and any change to the congressional map could determine which party controls the House next term. Right now, the math favors Republicans, as red states have more opportunities to shift district lines to their advantage before the midterms.
Here’s a look at some of the potential targets and the steps involved to change political boundaries in these states.
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