By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The fight for control of Congress is shifting from campaigns to cartography — in real time.
Across the country, states – where capitals are controlled by one party – are racing to redraw their congressional maps to boost their seats in Congress ahead of next year’s midterms.
Earlier this week, the Texas House approved new congressional maps that could give Republicans as many as five new seats in the U.S. House. The state’s Senate is poised to pass the maps as early as Friday.
Meanwhile, in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed legislation Thursday to put new congressional maps on the ballot this November.
“We wouldn’t be here had Texas not done what they just did,” Newsom said. “We’re responding to what occurred in Texas. We’re neutralizing what occurred, and we’re giving the American people a fair chance.”
It’s another unprecedented mid-decade move meant to give Democrats as many as five extra seats in the U.S. House.
“When all things are equal, when we’re all playing by the same set of rules, there’s no question that the Republican Party will be the minority party in the House of Representatives next year,” Newsom added.
The move is a direct counter to nullify the expected GOP pickups in Texas — pickups that former President Donald Trump hopes will secure the House for Republicans in the 2026 midterms.
“I want us to maintain our Republican majority and hopefully increase a Republican majority in the U.S. Congress. That’s my purpose for being willing to carry this map,” said Texas state Sen. Phil King, a Republican.
Unlike Texas, lawmakers in California can’t just approve new maps. In November, voters must sign off on a constitutional amendment to override the state’s independent redistricting commission.
“You have to repeal this part of the Constitution, which means you have to go back to the voters and ask them to take it out first before you can then set up these committees,” said Dr. Todd Belt, professor and director of the Political Management master’s program at George Washington University.
California and Texas may just be the beginning. Red states including Missouri, Florida and South Carolina are floating plans to join the arms race, while Democratic governors in Illinois, Maryland and New York are also weighing their options.
“Game on,” replied Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) on social media after the Texas House approved the maps earlier this week.
