Traditionally, the maps that define U.S. congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years, after a census. But in 2025 Pres. Donald Trump called on the Texas legislature to redraw the state’s maps to help Republicans win five more seats in the House of Representatives. Other states then followed suit, most notably California and Virginia, which each passed plans to redraw maps in ways likely to favor Democrats. (Virginia’s new maps were ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.) Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down part of the Voting Rights Act, led some Southern states to redraw their maps. These redrawn maps were expected to play a key role in determining which party would control the House after the 2026 midterm elections. The process of redistricting in such a way that it benefits one party is known as gerrymandering.
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