A nationwide redistricting battle is intensifying, largely at the behest of former President Donald Trump, as Republican-controlled legislatures in several states race to redraw congressional maps in ways that could bolster the GOP’s hold on the U.S. House of Representatives. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the stakes are high, and the fight over political maps is taking center stage in key battleground and red-leaning states alike.
In North Carolina, state Republicans are moving rapidly to advance a new congressional map, joining a growing list of states engaging in mid-decade redistricting — a practice that was once rare. The proposed map, which targets the U.S. House seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis, aims to increase Republican representation from 10 to 11 out of 14 House districts in the state.
North Carolina Senator Ralph Hise, a Republican involved in drafting the new lines, described the stakes bluntly. “The motivation behind this redraw is simple and singular: draw a new map that will bring an additional Republican seat to the congressional delegation,” Hise said, adding that Democratic control of the House would “torpedo President Trump’s agenda.”
Republicans in North Carolina have acted swiftly to fulfill Trump’s goals. The state Senate approved the new map within a day of the first public meeting, despite protests from Democrats and concerned citizens who turned out at the state Capitol in Raleigh. The map now moves to the state House for further consideration. Democratic Governor Josh Stein, who lacks veto authority over congressional maps under state law, criticized the move as “outrageous,” accusing lawmakers of denying North Carolinians a fair say in their representation.
North Carolina is considered a politically competitive state, with Democrats winning statewide offices in recent cycles. Yet GOP leaders argue that the new map reflects Trump’s repeated electoral success in the state. Senate leader Phil Berger stated, “This new map respects the will of the North Carolina voters who sent President Trump to the White House three times.”
State-by-State Redistricting Battles
North Carolina’s redistricting push is part of a larger, nationwide effort by Republicans to reshape congressional districts to their advantage. Texas led the charge earlier this year, proposing a map designed to add five more Republican seats in Congress. Missouri Republicans are also seeking to redraw lines to gain an additional GOP member in the state’s delegation. Both states are facing legal challenges, and activists in Missouri are pursuing a petition campaign to block the new map.
Democrats are not standing idle. California, in particular, has launched a counter-effort aimed at securing up to five new U.S. House seats for Democrats. The state is running a multimillion-dollar campaign to persuade voters to temporarily override maps drawn by its independent commission next month.
Republicans have a clear advantage in the number of states where redistricting is possible. The GOP controls both legislative chambers and the governor’s office in 23 states, compared to 15 for Democrats.
Other states are also seeing contentious battles. In Kansas, legislators approved $460,000 to fund a special session aimed at challenging Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, the state’s lone Democrat in Congress. Indiana Republicans, with a 7-2 House majority, have faced pressure from the White House, including visits from Vice President JD Vance, to target Democratic-held districts. Ohio and Utah are also engaged in complex redistricting battles that predate Trump’s current push.
In Utah, a judge ruled that the previous congressional map failed to comply with voter-approved guidelines. The Republican-controlled legislature recently passed a new map, which could give Democrats a narrow chance to break the GOP’s monopoly on the state’s delegation. Meanwhile, Republicans are gathering signatures to potentially block the map through a ballot initiative.
Ohio’s redistricting stems from a state law requiring maps drawn without bipartisan support to be redrawn after four years. The Republican-controlled General Assembly is expected to finalize new maps soon, with Democrats prepared to push for voter referendums if the process follows strict partisan lines.
Democrats Fight Back
Top House Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is reportedly planning to counter the GOP’s actions in Ohio, including raising funds and supporting citizen-led efforts to challenge partisan maps. John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, emphasized that Republicans’ aggressive gerrymandering efforts reflect fear of voter sentiment. “Republicans are openly stating that they need to take away the voting power of the American people through gerrymandering in order to win the 2026 midterms,” Bisognano said.
North Carolina at the Center of the Storm
Trump has praised North Carolina’s new congressional lines, claiming on Truth Social that the map would provide voters with “the opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections,” calling it a “HUGE VICTORY” for his agenda.
Rep. Don Davis’ district, covering parts of eastern North Carolina, is now the state’s only competitive House seat. Trump won the district last November, even as Davis narrowly secured reelection by less than two percentage points. The new map shifts several coastal counties with conservative voters into the district, making it more favorable to Republicans.
Some state Republicans justify their actions by pointing to California’s counter-redistricting efforts, framing the situation as a national “political arms race.” Democrats, however, strongly reject the notion, denouncing the maps as a blatant power grab. Activist Mark Swallow of Democracy Out Loud called the GOP’s actions “liars and cheats,” while Democratic State Senator Val Applewhite criticized them as part of a coordinated effort to entrench Trump’s influence.
As the redistricting battles continue across multiple states, both parties are gearing up for a contentious 2026 midterm cycle, with control of Congress hanging in the balance. Legal challenges, citizen petitions, and national political attention suggest the fight over the nation’s political map is only intensifying.