Measures like this matter because the House majority can hinge on just a few seats. If a party can reliably secure extra seats through district lines, that can translate into legislative power regardless of whether [its candidates won a majority of the overall votes across the country].
Even a small gain — one or two seats — could determine whether a president’s legislative agenda advances or stalls, tying local redistricting decisions directly to national governance and policy outcomes.
Mid‑Decade Redistricting: An Unusual and Controversial Trend
Traditionally, redistricting follows the census once every ten years. This is based on the principle that districts should reflect population changes captured by the decennial census. Mid‑decade redistricting — when a state redraws its districts before the next census — used to be rare.
According to analysis, only a couple of states voluntarily redrew maps between census cycles in the 52 years between the 1970s and 2024.
That pattern changed in 2025. Republican leaders in states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina moved forward with mid‑decade redistricting plans aimed at generating extra House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The push was explicitly tied to national political objectives: former President Donald Trump and other GOP leaders encouraged state officials to redraw maps to protect and expand Republican House control. Continue reading…
