Nationwide Redistricting Race Nears with GOP, Democrats Targeting House Seats

President Donald Trump is actively encouraging Republican-led states to engage in mid-decade redistricting efforts aimed at strengthening the GOP's narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 2026 midterms. This push has sparked a nationwide battle over congressional maps, with Texas, California, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida among the key states involved. In California, Democrats have proposed a new congressional map to counteract Republican efforts in Texas, potentially gaining five new Democratic seats, while also affecting districts represented by Mike Thompson and John Garamendi. Meanwhile, Republican-controlled states like Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Florida are seeking to redraw districts to increase GOP representation, with Ohio potentially gaining three Republican seats and Missouri targeting Democratic incumbents. Political experts note this redistricting wave represents a strategic shift toward using gerrymandering for national partisan control rather than just local or personal gain. The slim GOP majority in the House has intensified these efforts, as party leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, seek to consolidate power amid internal and external pressures.