As Texas Republicans work to approve a more favorable congressional map, pressure is growing on other red states to follow suit. The White House is leading the effort to gerrymander in an attempt to expand the Republican Party’s slim House majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
Here’s a look at the states that may try to redraw their congressional maps after Texas.
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Missouri:
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, R, is considering a mid-decade redistricting, although sources told Bloomberg it would take a big push from President Donald Trump to overcome inertia from lawmakers.
“Kehoe wants to be sure Missouri’s representation matches Missouri’s Christian conservative majority,” state Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R, told Bloomberg. “If he calls a special session to address this, we will of course take it up.”
It’s not clear how many new Republican seats the legislature would try to draw. Republicans already hold six out of the state’s eight seats in the House of Representatives. Reports indicate they may try to get one more, making it 7-1.
Indiana:
The White House is so eager to get a redrawn map in Indiana that Vice President JD Vance will meet with Gov. Mike Braun, R, in Indianapolis on Thursday while he’s in town for an RNC fundraiser.
Politico reported that state lawmakers do not want to call a special session as they face a budget crisis in the middle of Braun’s first year in office.
According to Punchbowl News, Republicans could draw Rep. Frank Mrvan, D, out of his district that covers the northwest corner of the state, including Gary, Indiana. That would give Republicans eight out of the Hoosier state’s nine seats in the House of Representatives.
There are some Republicans who believe they could draw both Mrvan and Rep. Andre Carson, D, out to give the GOP all nine seats. Although others believe that’s a stretch.
California:
Punchbowl also reported that California lawmakers are trying to counter Texas’ new maps by drawing five new Democratic seats in the Golden State.
If California’s Democratic governor and legislature can find a way to legally redraw the map, they would target Reps. Ken Calvert, Darrell Issa, David Valadao, Doug LaMalfa and Kevin Kiley.
Democrats currently hold 43 of the state’s 52 seats in the House of Representatives.
It will be difficult for California to move forward because state law requires maps to be drawn by an independent commission, which was created in 2008.
It’s a big gamble for Gov. Gavin Newsom, D. Political experts say if he calls a vote to redistrict through the legislature and it fails, it would not only embarrass him in his home state, but also hurt his chances of being the Democrats’ presidential nominee in 2028.
New York and Maryland:
New York and Maryland are both places Democrats hope to make gains if Texas approves its new map, but it’s doubtful that either would be successful.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, said due to restrictions, it’s unlikely a new map could be approved until 2027, after the 2026 midterms.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, D, also said he’s evaluating all options. But Republicans hold only one of the state’s eight House seats and a judge already blocked an attempt by the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature to draw out the lone Republican in 2022.
