Redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections

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Redistricting

State legislative and congressional redistricting after the 2020 census

General information
State-by-state redistricting proceduresMajority-minority districtsGerrymandering
The 2020 cycle
United States census, 2020Congressional apportionmentRedistricting committeesDeadlines2022 House elections with multiple incumbentsNew U.S.House districts created after apportionmentCongressional mapsState legislative mapsLawsuitsStatus of redistricting after the 2020 census
Redrawn maps
Redistricting before 2024 electionsRedistricting before 2026 elections
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
2024



Redistricting is the process of enacting new district boundaries for elected offices, particularly for offices in the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures.

States must redraw district lines every 10 years following the completion of the U.S. census. The federal government requires the districts resulting from this process to have nearly equal populations and not cause racial or ethnic voting discrimination.[1]

While every state redrew its district lines after the 2020 census, some states are revisiting redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

On the Ballot Episode 222 - How Many House Seats Could Flip as a Result of Redistricting Efforts Around the Country?
As of December 2025:
  • Five states—California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas—had passed a new congressional map between the 2024 and 2026 elections, and litigation had led to a new map in Utah.
  • Three states—Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana—had congressional or state legislative maps that were subject to change due to ongoing litigation.
  • Four states—Florida, Indiana. Maryland, and Virginia—had taken official action toward voluntary redistricting.
  • As of December 2025, Republicans have a 220-213 majority in the U.S. House, with two vacancies. In the 2018 elections, the midterm elections during President Donald Trump's (R) first term, Democrats gained control of the House from Republicans after netting 40 seats.

    The page below contains information about:

    Overview

    As of December 2025, five states had congressional district maps that were subject to change before the 2026 elections, and six states—California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Utah—had new congressional maps. Three states were reportedly exploring voluntary redistricting, and two states had congressional maps that were subject to change due to litigation. Before 2025, only two states had conducted voluntary mid-decade redistricting since 1970.[2]

    The map below shows redistricting activity between the 2024 and 2026 elections.

    The table below shows redistricting activity between the 2024 and 2026 elections as well as the pre-redistricting U.S. House delegation in each state.

    Status of congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections
    State Reason for redistricting Status Method of redistricting U.S. House delegation before redistricting Potential result of new maps
    New map enacted
    California Voluntary redistricting Voters approved the use of a new map on Nov. 4, 2025. Commission 43 D - 9 R +5 D
    Missouri Voluntary redistricting Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed new map into law on Sept. 28, 2025. Legislature-dominant 6 R - 2 D +1 R
    North Carolina Voluntary redistricting Legislature passed new map into law on Oct. 22, 2025 Legislature-dominant 10 R - 4 D +1 R
    Ohio Required by law to redistrict Redistricting commission approved a new map on Oct. 31, 2025 Legislature-dominant 10 R -5 D +2 R
    Texas Voluntary redistricting U.S. Supreme Court ruled the new Texas map could be used in 2026 Legislature-dominant 25 R -12 D with 1 vacancy +5 R
    Utah Changed due to litigation Court approved new plaintiff-submitted map Legislature-dominant 4 R - 0 D +1 D
    Net +3 R
    New map possible
    Florida Voluntary redistricting Florida House to form Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting Legislature-dominant 20 R - 8 D -
    Georgia Subject to change due to litigation Litigation ongoing Legislature-dominant 9 R - 5 D -
    Louisiana Subject to change due to litigation Litigation ongoing Legislature-dominant 4 R - 2 D -
    Maryland Voluntary redistricting Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced a redistricting advisory commission. Legislature-dominant 7 D - 1 R -
    Virginia Voluntary redistricting The Virginia General Assembly completed its first of two required rounds of approval for a constitutional amendment. Hybrid 6 D - 5 R -

    States that are required by law to redistrict

    This section contains information about states whose maps are or were required by law to change before the 2026 elections.

    Ohio was required by law to redraw its congressional district boundaries before the 2026 elections.

    States with maps required by state law to change

    The following states have congressional maps that are or were required by state law to change before the 2026 elections. Expand each state to learn more.

    Expand All
    Ohio

    States whose maps are subject to change due to ongoing litigation

    This section contains information about states whose maps are subject to change due to ongoing litigation. Click a tab below to read about litigation against congressional or state legislative district boundaries.

    As of December 2025, two states—Georgia and Louisiana—had congressional maps that were subject to change due to litigation, and litigation had led to a new map in Utah.

    States with maps subject to change due to litigation

    The following states have or had congressional maps that are subject to change due to litigation. Expand each state to learn more.

    Expand All
    Georgia
    Louisiana
    Utah

    States considering redistricting before the 2026 elections

    This section contains information about states considering voluntary redistricting before the 2026 elections.

    As of December 2025, three states were considering voluntary redistricting ahead of the 2026 U.S. House elections, and five states—California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas—had passed a new congressional map.

    In July 2025, President Donald Trump (R) suggested Texas revisit its congressional map to add additional Republican districts ahead of the 2026 elections.[43] Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) added redistricting to its 30-day special legislative session agenda "in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice."[44][45]

    Other Republican states then also weighed redistricting efforts. A September 2025 special session for redistricting produced a new map in Missouri.[46] The North Carolina legislature enacted a new map in October.[47] Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) suggested the state could revisit its congressional district boundaries.[48] Vice President J.D. Vance (R) met Indiana leaders three times to discuss redistricting.[49] Kansas lawmakers approved funds for a potential redistricting special session and circulated a petition to gather signatures to begin the session on November 7, 2025.[50]

    Several Democratic states considered countering with redistricting of their own, including California, Maryland, and New York, though New York would not be able to change its maps in time for the 2026 election.[45][51] The New York Times' Nick Corasaniti and Laurel Rosenhall wrote, "Though Democratic leaders have indicated a willingness to go tit for tat with Republicans, most of the largest blue states do not have a partisan redistricting process akin to the one in Texas, where the governor can simply call in the Legislature to redraw maps. California has an independent commission in charge of drawing maps, which voters applied to congressional districts in 2010. New York also has a commission (though it is subject to potential legislative changes), and New Jersey’s political commission is separate from the Legislature."[52] Virginia Democrats announced on October 24, 2025, that they were considering mid-decade redistricting.[53]

    The map below shows states considering voluntary redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

    The states below have taken a voluntary, official action toward congressional redistricting before the 2026 elections.

    Click on a state below to read about its redistricting efforts before the 2026 elections.

    Expand All
    California
    Florida
    Indiana
    Kansas
    Maryland
    Missouri
    North Carolina
    Texas
    Virginia

    New maps enacted before the 2026 elections

    This section contains information about states that redrew their maps before the 2026 elections. As of November 2025, five states had redrawn their congressional maps, one had a new congressional map imposed by a court, and three states had redrawn their state legislative maps or had a new map imposed by a court.

    The following states enacted congressional maps before the 2026 elections:

    Expand All
    California
    Missouri
    North Carolina
    Ohio
    Texas
    Utah

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed February 15, 2024
    2. Pew Research Center, "Redistricting between censuses has been rare in the modern era," August 28, 2025
    3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Politico, "Republicans notch redistricting win in Ohio — but it could have been worse for Democrats," October 31, 2025
    4. NBC News, "Ohio lawmakers pass new congressional map after reaching an unexpected deal," October 31, 2025
    5. Ohio Redistricting Commission, "Congressional District Statistics," accessed October 31, 2025
    6. Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio lawmakers miss first congressional redistricting deadline with no negotiations and no GOP map," October 1, 2025
    7. 7.0 7.1 Georgia General Assembly, "Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office - Proposed Plans," accessed December 11, 2023
    8. 8.0 8.1 Twitter, "RedistrictNet," December 7, 2023
    9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Reuters, "US judge orders new congressional map in Georgia, citing harm to Black voters," October 27, 2023 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Reuters" defined multiple times with different content
    10. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Federal judge upholds Georgia’s Republican redistricting plan," December 8, 2023
    11. United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, "Case 1:21-cv-05339-SCJ, Document 334" December 28, 2023
    12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    13. Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Considers Fate of Georgia Maps in High-Stakes Redistricting Case," January 21, 2025
    14. Louisiana Illuminator, "U.S. Supreme Court punts Louisiana redistricting case to next term," June 27, 2025
    15. Louisiana Illuminator, "U.S. Supreme Court sets date for Louisiana redistricting case rehearing," August 13, 2025
    16. Louisiana Illuminator, "Louisiana will use challenged congressional map after Supreme Court declines to expedite ruling," January 2, 2026
    17. NBC News, "Supreme Court wrestles with Louisiana racial gerrymandering claim," March 24, 2025
    18. SCOTUSblog, "Supreme Court will hear case on second majority-Black district in Louisiana redistricting," November 4, 2024
    19. The American Redistricting Project, "Louisiana v. Callais," November 4, 2024
    20. 20.0 20.1 SCOTUSblog, "Court allows Louisiana to move forward with two majority-Black districts," May 15, 2024
    21. Roll Call, "Louisiana Legislature passes new congressional map," January 19, 2024
    22. Ballotpedia's Legislation Tracker, "Louisiana SB8," accessed January 25, 2024
    23. NPR, "After a court fight, Louisiana's new congressional map boosts Black political power," January 23, 2024
    24. Deseret News, "Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signs off on controversial congressional map that ‘cracks’ Salt Lake County," November 12, 2021
    25. Deseret News, "Utah redistricting: Congressional map splitting Salt Lake County 4 ways heads to Gov. Spencer Cox," November 10, 2021
    26. New York Times, "Utah’s Gerrymandered House Map Ignored Voters’ Will, State Supreme Court Says," July 11, 2024
    27. 27.0 27.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named dispatch
    28. 28.0 28.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named apnews
    29. 29.0 29.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ksl
    30. Politico, "Legislature passes new map in Utah, creating 2 more competitive seats," October 6, 2025
    31. Utah News Dispatch, "Plaintiffs submit 2 congressional maps to judge as Utah lawmakers vote on their own," October 6, 2025
    32. 32.0 32.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named order
    33. 33.0 33.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named appeal
    34. Alabama Reflector, "Federal judge: Alabama Senate map violates Voting Rights Act," August 22, 2025
    35. 35.0 35.1 Alabama Reflector, "Federal judge approves new Alabama Senate map redrawing Montgomery districts," November 18, 2025
    36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 Montgomery Advertiser, "Gov. Kay Ivey signs off on Alabama congressional, legislative, SBOE maps for 2022," Nov. 4, 2021
    37. Alabama Political Reporter, "Alabama Senate passes Senate, State School Board districts," Nov. 1, 2021
    38. Alabama Political Report, "House district lines comfortably pass House over objections from both sides ," Nov. 1, 2021
    39. Democracy Docket, "11th Circuit Considers Fate of Georgia Maps in High-Stakes Redistricting Case," January 21, 2025
    40. American Redistricting Project, "Nairne v. Landry," accessed November 20, 2024
    41. NOLA.com. "Louisiana must redraw its legislative districts, federal judge rules. Here's why." February 8, 2024
    42. 42.0 42.1 Twitter. "RedistrictNet," February 8, 2024
    43. 43.0 43.1 Associated Press, "Trump tells Texas Republicans to redraw the state congressional map to help keep House majority," July 15, 2025
    44. 44.0 44.1 Texas Tribune, "The Texas Legislature is back for a special session. Here’s what we’re watching.," July 21, 2025
    45. 45.0 45.1 ABC News, "Texas Democrats escalate fight against Republican-led redistricting efforts with Pritzker, Newsom meetings," July 26, 2025
    46. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Missouri Republicans are talking about a redistricting push to help Trump, GOP," July 29, 2025
    47. WRAL News, "NC Republicans pass new congressional districts into law to boost GOP edge in U.S. House races," October 22, 2025
    48. 48.0 48.1 Bay News 9, "States, including Florida, consider mid-decade redistricting," July 29, 2025
    49. Indiana Capital Chronicle, "Indiana leaders hint at early redistricting ‘resolution’ following third meeting with VP," October 10, 2025
    50. Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kansas OKs $460,000 for special redistricting session and maybe more," October 13, 2025
    51. ''Fox Baltimore, "Md. delegate says he'll sponsor redistricting if Texas, others do before census," August 7, 2025
    52. New York Times, "Democrats Have Few Tools to Counter G.O.P. Redistricting," July 24, 2025
    53. 53.0 53.1 New York Times, "Virginia Democrats Plan to Redraw House Maps in Redistricting Push," October 24, 2025
    54. 54.0 54.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named newsomtweet
    55. 55.0 55.1 55.2 Associated Press, "California voters approve new US House map to boost Democrats in 2026," November 4, 2025
    56. New York Times, "California Democrats Pass Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas Republicans," August 21, 2025
    57. CNN, "California Democrats prepare to pass their redistricting plan after Texas House approves new maps," August 21, 2025
    58. NPR, "California Democrats unveil their new congressional map to counter Republicans," August 15, 2025
    59. New York Times, "Newsom’s Latest Statewide Campaign Is About Redistricting. And Donald Trump.," August 14, 2025
    60. YouTube, "Governor Newsom, California leaders host Texas Democrats breaking quorum to fight GOP map-rigging," August 8, 2025
    61. The Floridian, "DeSantis Will Call for Special Legislative Session on Congressional Redistricting," December 1, 2025
    62. Tampa Bay Times, "Florida House speaker puts together Congressional redistricting committee," August 7, 2025
    63. 63.0 63.1 X, "Interactive Polls on August 7, 2025," accessed August 8, 2025
    64. Politico, "Vance heads to Indiana after Republicans warn White House of stalled redistricting push," October 8, 2025
    65. Axios, "Indiana Senate rejects Trump's redistricting effort," December 11, 2025
    66. Indiana Capital Chronicle, "Indiana House approves redistricting bill, sending issue to state Senate," December 5, 2025
    67. Indiana Capital Chronicle, "Indiana Republicans release proposed congressional redistricting plan," December 1, 2025
    68. Indiana Capital Chronicle, "Indiana House returning next week to address redistricting; Senate to join Dec. 8," November 25, 2025
    69. Politico, "Indiana redistricting push likely dead despite White House pressure," November 14, 2025
    70. Indiana Capital Chronicle, "Indiana lawmakers set mid-cycle redistricting work for December," November 3, 2025
    71. Associated Press, "Indiana governor calls a special session to redraw US House maps as redistricting battle spreads," October 27, 2025
    72. 72.0 72.1 Topeka Capital Journal, "Kansas OKs $460,000 for special redistricting session and maybe more," October 13, 2025
    73. Associated Press, "Kansas legislators won’t have a special session to join the US redistricting battle," November 4, 2025
    74. 74.0 74.1 Politico, "Wes Moore launches Maryland redistricting commission after top state Dem stymies effort," November 4, 2025
    75. Politico, "Top Maryland Democrat torpedoes state’s redistricting push," October 28, 2025
    76. Maryland Matters, "Redistricting commission votes behind closed doors to move toward redrawing maps," December 18, 2025
    77. Truth Social, "Trump on August 21, 2025," accessed September 2, 2025
    78. CNN, "Missouri governor calls special redistricting session amid Trump pressure," August 29, 2025
    79. NBC News, "Group seeking to put Missouri's GOP-drawn congressional map before voters submits signatures," December 9, 2025
    80. 80.0 80.1 Associated Press, "Missouri governor signs Trump-backed plan aimed at helping Republicans win another US House seat," September 28, 2025
    81. 81.0 81.1 CNN, "Missouri lawmakers give final approval to map targeting a Democratic House seat," September 12, 2025
    82. Fox2Now, "Missouri House passes redistricting, ballot question reforms," September 9, 2025
    83. St. Louis Public Radio, "Missouri legislators kick off special session on redistricting and limiting ballot amendments," Setpember 3, 2025
    84. Politico, "Missouri to take up redistricting in special session, likely netting GOP 1 seat," August 29, 2025
    85. 85.0 85.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named northcarolina
    86. WRAL News, NC Republicans pass new congressional districts into law to boost GOP edge in U.S. House races, October 22, 2025
    87. New York Times, "North Carolina State Senate Approves New Congressional Map in Effort to Add a Seat," October 21, 2025
    88. 88.0 88.1 ABC 11, "NC Senate passes proposed voting maps changes, bill moves to House," October 21, 2025
    89. Houston Chronicle, "Trump tells Texas Republicans to redraw the state congressional map to help keep House majority," July 15, 2025
    90. Texas Trbiune, "Supreme Court lets Texas keep new congressional map while legal battle continues," December 4, 2025
    91. Texas Tribune, "Supreme Court temporarily restores Texas’ new congressional map," November 21, 2025
    92. 92.0 92.1 Texas Tribune, "Federal court blocks Texas from using new congressional gerrymander in 2026 midterms," November 18, 2025
    93. 93.0 93.1 X, "Greg Abbott on August 29, 2025," accessed August 29, 2025
    94. Reuters, "Texas Senate approves redistricting bill, sending it to governor to sign," August 25, 2025
    95. New York Times, "Texas House Approves Redistricting Maps, Just as Trump Wanted," August 20, 2025
    96. ABC News, "Texas House redistricting committee advances bill with new congressional maps," August 18, 2025
    97. 97.0 97.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named session2
    98. The Hill, "Abbott hitting reset in Texas redistricting standoff," August 12, 2025
    99. Texas Tribune, "Texas Senate approves new congressional lines as House Democrats remain out of state," August 12, 2025
    100. CNN, "The Texas redistricting showdown reaches a critical moment," August 8, 2025
    101. News 10, Texas governor asks court to remove House Democratic leader from office over walkout," August 5, 2025
    102. ABC News, "Texas Republicans fail again to advance redistricting effort amid Democrat absences," August 5, 2025
    103. Governor Greg Abbott, "Gov. Abbott on August 3, 2025," accessed August 6, 2025
    104. Politico, "Texas Dems to flee state amid national redistricting battle," August 3, 2025
    105. Texas Tribune, "Texas House panel advances redrawn congressional map that would add more GOP seats," August 1, 2025
    106. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named draftreleased
    107. Texas Tribune, "Texans, Democrats condemn GOP redistricting plans at first public hearing," July 24, 2025
    108. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named letter
    109. Virginia Mercury, "Virginia Senate approves mid-decade redistricting amendment in party-line vote," October 31, 2025
    110. The Hill, "Virginia Democrats advance redistricting amendment," October 30, 2025
    111. Virginia Mercury, "Democrats push redistricting amendment as special session jolts Virginia ahead of election," October 27, 2025
    112. New York Times, "California Democrats Pass Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas Republicans," August 21, 2025
    113. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2025session
    114. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named stlpr
    115. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fox2now
    116. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named referendum
    117. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named housepass
    118. New York Times, "North Carolina State Senate Approves New Congressional Map in Effort to Add a Seat," October 21, 2025
    119. NBC News, "Ohio lawmakers pass new congressional map after reaching an unexpected deal," October 31, 2025
    120. Associated Press, "Texas Democrats fleeing state to block redistricting vote follows strategy that’s had mixed results," August 3, 2025
    121. Texas Tribune, "The Texas Legislature is back for a special session. Here’s what we’re watching.," July 21, 2025
    122. CBS News, "Texas House passes GOP redistricting plan after weeks-long standoff," August 20, 2025
    123. Houston Chronicle, "Texas Democrats ramp up criticism of new Texas congressional map after Senate sends it to governor," August 23, 2025
    124. LegiScan, "Texas House Bill 4," accessed August 29, 2025
    125. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named scotusstay
    126. Politico, "Supreme Court gives Texas OK to use House map drawn to boost GOP," December 4, 2025
    127. New York Times, "Utah’s Gerrymandered House Map Ignored Voters’ Will, State Supreme Court Says," July 11, 2024
    128. Politico, "Legislature passes new map in Utah, creating 2 more competitive seats," October 6, 2025
    129. Utah News Dispatch, "Plaintiffs submit 2 congressional maps to judge as Utah lawmakers vote on their own," October 6, 2025
    130. Alabama Reflector, "Federal judge: Alabama Senate map violates Voting Rights Act," August 22, 2025
    131. Alabama Political Reporter, "Alabama Senate passes Senate, State School Board districts," Nov. 1, 2021
    132. Alabama Political Report, "House district lines comfortably pass House over objections from both sides ," Nov. 1, 2021
    133. Michigan Advance, "Federal court grants final approval to new Michigan Senate districts," July 26, 2024
    134. Michigan Advance, "Redistricting commission selects a proposed Senate map on 6th round of voting," June 27, 2024
    135. Magnolia Tribune, "Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court coming to address “very narrow, legal issue” in court-ordered legislative redistricting," July 3, 2025
    136. Associated Press, "Mississippi can wait to reset legislative districts that dilute Black voting strength, judges say," July 18, 2024
    137. Associated Press, "New Mississippi legislative maps head to court for approval despite DeSoto lawmakers’ objections," March 6, 2025
    138. DeSoto Times-Tribune, "Judges order new redistricting map for DeSoto," April 16, 2025
    139. Mississippi Today, "Federal court approves Mississippi legislative redistricting. Special elections will proceed," May 9, 2025
    140. 140.0 140.1 Jackson Free Press, "Mississippi House and Senate OK Each Other's Redistricting," April 1, 2022
    141. 141.0 141.1 Jackson Free Press, "Mississippi House, Senate Pass Separate Redistricting Plans," March 30, 2022