Topline
Democrats in Virginia announced an effort Thursday to redraw their congressional map in an effort to pick up more House seats in next year’s midterm elections—the latest move by Democrats to counter Republican-led gerrymandering in other states, The New York Times reported.
Key Facts
Virginia Democratic state lawmakers are angling to add two or three additional House seats to their map, up from the six they hold, out of 11 total, according to The New York Times.
“We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,” Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell told The Times.
The effort follows a similar push in California, where Democrats are seeking voters’ approval next month of a redrawn map that would add five likely Democratic seats.
Republicans in North Carolina, Texas and Missouri have also retooled their maps to try to pick up additional seats, and GOP lawmakers in Indiana, Florida and Kansas have explored the possibility.
Meanwhile, Democratic governors in Illinois and Maryland haven’t ruled out redistricting to balance the scales with Republicans, who hold a slim 219-213 majority in the House.
North Carolina
Republicans are likely to pick up another seat after state lawmakers passed a new congressional map Wednesday. Ten of 14 House seats are held by Republicans in the state.
Texas
Lawmakers adopted a new map in August that would give Republicans the advantage in five new seats. Republicans hold 25 of Texas’ 38 seats in the House.
Missouri
Lawmakers approved a revised congressional map last month with one new district that favors Republicans, though a referendum petition, if successful, could force voters to sign off on the new map. Republicans hold six of Missouri’s eight seats in the House.
Indiana
President Donald Trump has been pressuring Indiana Republicans to redistrict, but Republicans in the state Senate claim the effort doesn’t have the support to pass, Politico reported. Republican Gov. Mike Braun has not ruled out the possibility of calling a special session to approve a new map, however, an unnamed spokesperson for his office told Politico.
Florida
The state’s Republican House speaker, Daniel Perez, said in August he’s creating a special committee to redistrict, while Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a new census. Echoing Trump, DeSantis has said a new census is necessary to omit undocumented migrants and account for what he claims is an increase in the population. Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 seats in the House.
Kansas
Republican lawmakers are circulating petitions for a special session to enact mid-cycle redistricting in an effort to flip its one House seat held by a Democrat. Kansas has four congressional districts.
California
Democratic state lawmakers passed a new congressional map in August that would likely give the party five more House seats, subject to voters’ approval in a Nov. 4 special election. Democrats hold 43 of California’s 52 seats in the House.
Illinois
House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., spoke earlier this month to members of Illinois’ congressional delegation to discuss redistricting, and Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has not ruled out the prospect, Politico reported. Democrats represent 14 of Illinois’ 17 districts in the House.
Maryland
Jeffries, along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have also held talks with Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore about the possibility of redrawing the state’s congressional districts to favor Democrats more, according to Politico. Moore told the outlet, “It’s time for Maryland to have a conversation about whether we have a fair map or not.”
Further Reading
Texas Battle Triggers National Gerrymandering War—These States Could Redistrict Next (Forbes)
Could Democrats Turn To Gerrymandering After Texas Redistricting Fight? Here’s What To Know (Forbes)
Texas House Passes New Gerrymandered Map—Likely Giving Republicans 5 More Congressional Seats (Forbes)
