The recent electoral triumphs for the Democrats have ignited a fervent push within blue states to recalibrate their congressional maps, all in a bid to fortify the party’s standing ahead of the pivotal 2026 elections.
Several states are already taking steps in this direction.
In Virginia, buoyed by a significant victory in state delegate races, Democrats are championing a constitutional amendment poised to secure an additional two House seats for the party. National Democrats are mobilizing support to encourage voter participation in this initiative.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders across the nation are intensifying pressure on a Maryland legislative figure who is obstructing the party’s strategy to gain another seat in that state. In Colorado, some Democratic lawmakers are advocating for a redrawing of the state’s maps, albeit with a timeline extending to 2028.
“We can’t stick our heads in the sand,” asserted Colorado Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser in a post-election interview. “We need to confront reality. Colorado, like other states, must be ready to take action.”
This concerted effort by Democrats reflects the urgency of the situation, especially as they grapple with a significant disadvantage in the redistricting struggle. California’s anticipated gain of five seats is insufficient to counterbalance the potential emergence of nine new Republican-leaning seats across states like Texas and North Carolina. National Democrats, apprehensive about losing ground, are leveraging their successes in California’s Proposition 50 and strong margins in statewide races in Virginia and New Jersey to galvanize state Democrats who have been hesitant to fully engage in the redistricting battle.
“All Democratic elected officials should take note and take heed of what is coming from the people,” remarked John Bisognano, President of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, in an interview with POLITICO.
In Virginia, the Democratic-controlled state legislature must pass the proposed constitutional amendment once again next year. Like California’s measure, this could ultimately require voter approval and could yield two more House seats for the Democrats. The House Majority PAC, which invested $16 million into Prop 50, is also expected to play a significant role in Virginia’s ballot initiative, according to spokesperson CJ Warnke.
“We need to see other states, with their remarkable leaders, rise to this moment and recognize the challenges we face in 2026,” Gov. Gavin Newsom stated during his victory speech following Proposition 50’s approval.
Despite the broad backing from national Democrats—a stark contrast to the good-government rhetoric of years past—party operatives are aware of the formidable challenges to replicate California’s success in other states, particularly due to structural impediments like independent redistricting commissions.
“Should we be doing what California’s doing in more places? Hypothetically,” mused Yasmin Radjy, executive director of the Democratic grassroots group Swing Left, prior to Tuesday’s elections. “Practically, we may have constrained ourselves in many areas, making swift action difficult.”
Nonetheless, Democrats argue that the recent electoral victories have invigorated their efforts, even if tangible results won’t be realized until after the midterms. In Colorado, Weiser is advocating for a constitutional amendment that would enable lawmakers to reshape the state’s maps, rather than relying on the current independent commission. He views this proposal as a last resort, necessitated by Republican gerrymandering, though he acknowledges that the amendment process cannot be completed before the upcoming midterms.
“In a landscape where Republican-controlled states are increasingly disregarding the norms of mid-cycle redistricting, it would be neither prudent nor appropriate for Democratic states to remain passive,” he stated.
Additionally, Democrats have initiated legal challenges against redistricting maps in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina, while Republicans have filed lawsuits to impede the implementation of Proposition 50.
Republicans are also facing their own hurdles, yet the White House has not wavered in its commitment to pursue redistricting opportunities ahead of the midterms, aiming to secure a majority in the House. Collectively, this strategy could yield over a dozen seats through mid-cycle adjustments.
“To put it plainly, I believe Republicans will ultimately net seats from the redistricting process,” asserted James Blair, political director for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and the RNC, during an exclusive interview with POLITICO’s “The Conversation” podcast on Wednesday. “Republicans should leverage every legal avenue at their disposal to secure electoral victories, especially as Democrats are doing the same.”
Blair, who also serves as the White House deputy chief of staff, noted that Trump and his allies are orchestrating a similar pressure campaign aimed at GOP leaders, including threats of primary challenges. The former president has even reached out to Indiana lawmakers who have been stalling on a plan to carve out two new Republican-leaning seats.
However, Bisognano emphasized that Democratic states, despite facing structural obstacles, should maintain a long-term focus on redistricting, even if immediate changes aren’t feasible before 2026.
“Each state possesses numerous mechanisms, albeit not all are immediate or easily implementable like California’s,” he said, commending Newsom for his prompt action.
In Illinois and Maryland, where Democrats encounter fewer structural barriers, national leaders have struggled to align local lawmakers with the party’s redistricting objectives ahead of Tuesday’s elections.
In Maryland, Senate President Bill Ferguson has emerged as an obstacle for Governor Wes Moore, who recently established a redistricting commission to advocate for new maps. However, without Ferguson’s backing, those efforts are unlikely to materialize.
After announcing the commission, Moore insisted that his intention was not to pressure Ferguson but rather to ensure Maryland has “fair maps.”
“The legislature must play a crucial role in this process,” Moore asserted in Annapolis. “But I want to be clear: no single individual can hinder a democratic process.”
Ferguson, however, reinforced his position after Tuesday’s electoral victories, declaring that these outcomes demonstrated “we don’t need to rig the system to win.” A source close to Ferguson, who wished to remain anonymous, cautioned that redistricting disputes heard by a state Supreme Court dominated by GOP appointees could backfire, potentially costing Democrats one or two seats.
“What [Moore] stated was problematic,” the source commented. “He effectively suggested that our current 7-1 map isn’t fair.”
Ferguson’s remarks on election night did not sit well with a prominent Virginia lawmaker who supports her state’s redistricting initiatives. “Keep our victory in Virginia out of your mouth while you echo MAGA talking points,” tweeted Democratic state Senator L. Louise Lucas. “Have some courage and confront this President. This is just embarrassing.”
In Illinois, Black Democratic lawmakers are concerned that a new map could undermine Black representation, an ongoing contention despite outreach from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Despite a lukewarm reception from some lawmakers, leaders of the Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly have received a redrawn map, as confirmed by three individuals familiar with the redistricting discussions who spoke anonymously. Members of the Illinois congressional delegation have also reviewed proposed boundaries for their respective districts.
However, Illinois legislators would need to convene a special session to address the new map, which could complicate timelines. With the primary election set for March and ballots needing to be finalized by January to accommodate military personnel overseas, timing is tight.
“We’re monitoring developments in Indiana. We’re exploring pairing strategies with other states,” Democratic Governor JB Pritzker mentioned on Wednesday, referencing the response of blue states to red states that might initiate redistricting. “We don’t think it’s advisable. Nationwide redistricting? Not a good idea.”
Pritzker accused Trump of “wanting to cheat” by encouraging Texas to remap in favor of Republicans.
In numerous other Democratic-controlled states, existing laws that Democrats enacted are hindering their redistricting efforts. New York and New Jersey, for instance, lack clear pathways for redesigning their maps, according to operatives familiar with the redistricting landscape.
Nevertheless, it’s not entirely out of reach for some of these structural challenges to be overcome. When Newsom first launched the Prop 50 campaign, many anticipated it could lead to political embarrassment for him as a 2028 hopeful.
Instead, he emerged as the first Democrat to galvanize his party into action regarding redistricting, despite potentially easier avenues in other states.
“We organized in an unprecedented manner,” Newsom declared on Tuesday. “In a 90-day sprint, voices and support poured in from across the United States for this initiative.”
Shia Kapos, Lisa Kashinsky, and Gregory Svirnovskiy contributed to this report.
