An Emerging Trend: Mid-Decade Redistricting

Last updated: February 27, 2026

Following a census, states employ various redistricting processes. In most states, legislators adopt congressional maps through the legislative process: both chambers of the legislature pass a bill, and the governor signs it into law. Other states require a supermajority of the legislature to adopt a new map or allow the legislature to adopt maps without the governor’s signature. Some states have delegated redistricting to commissions that are either independent or political. Many states also have backstop processes, such as delegating redistricting to the judiciary, that assign responsibility for drawing maps if the standard process fails to adopt a map.

As shown in the map below, over the last two years, several states have considered or enacted new maps in the middle of the decade, between censuses. President Donald Trump has often prompted this unprecedented activity. Several states, such as California and Texas, have already completed redistricting. Some states, such as Maryland and Virginia, are actively considering new maps. Others have faced ongoing litigation since the start of the decade that continues to move through the court system and may result in new maps being drawn before November’s general elections. This litigation predates the president’s current redistricting push. 

Note: This map and the following narrative summaries focus on states that may have new maps for the 2026 midterm elections. Other states, such as Colorado and New Jersey, require longer timelines, but may introduce redrawn maps before the 2028 midterms.

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Alabama

In 2024, a court-appointed special master redrew Alabama’s maps to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Allen v. Milligan. In 2026, the state Senate has advanced legislation that would allow special primaries to be held later in 2026 if the Supreme Court issues a decision in Louisiana v. Callais that opens the door to further redistricting.

California

In November 2025, California voters approved Proposition 50, a redistricting measure backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. This ballot measure established congressional districts for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections. The new maps are now subject to multiple pending federal lawsuits. In January 2026, a panel of federal judges denied a request for an injunction that would have prevented the new maps from taking effect. On February 4, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs’ application for a writ of injunction enjoining the maps.

Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation convening a special session to address congressional redistricting, scheduled for the week of April 20, 2026. House leaders have established a Select Committee on Redistricting, whereas Senate leaders have not. Florida’s congressional primary is scheduled for August 18.

Indiana

President Donald Trump called on Indiana to redraw its congressional map and threatened primary campaigns against Republican legislators who did not support the effort. Ultimately, in December 2025, the legislature failed to pass legislation to redraw the state’s congressional districts. New maps passed the House on a 57-41 vote but were rejected by the Senate in a bipartisan 31-19 floor vote.

Kansas

In January 2026, Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins stated that he would not bring redistricting legislation to a vote in the upcoming session. Hawkins attributed his decision to the lack of sufficient votes to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s expected veto of any redistricting measure.

Louisiana

In 2024, Louisiana’s legislature enacted a new congressional map in response to a federal district court ruling. That map is currently the subject of a case, Louisiana v. Callais, before the U.S. Supreme Court. The court’s ruling could result in new lines being drawn this year.

Maryland

In November 2025, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore convened the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, which recommended that the state legislature adopt a new map. The House passed legislation adopting the commission’s recommendations, while Senate President Bill Ferguson opposed the effort. On February 24, the candidate filing deadline passed, which experts considered the last opportunity to enact new maps.

Missouri

In September 2025, during a special session, the Missouri legislature enacted a congressional redistricting plan, which Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law. The map faces a veto referendum set for the November 2026 election. Multiple lawsuits are pending, including Maggard v. Missouri, which seeks to suspend use of the new map until the outcome of the referendum is known. 

New York

In January 2026, a state court ruled that New York’s 11th Congressional District violated the state constitution and state Voting Rights Act, reopening the map-drawing process. The district is one of the state’s only Republican-controlled House seats. A state appeals court denied a request to pause the lower court’s ruling until the litigation is resolved. Republican members of Congress from New York have filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to pause the decision.

North Carolina

The North Carolina legislature adopted a new map in October 2025. State law allows the legislature to adopt a map by a simple majority without allowing the governor to veto it. A federal court challenged the map but was unsuccessful. 

Ohio

In January 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down a map passed by the legislature for unlawful gerrymandering. Subsequently, the redistricting commission adopted a new temporary map, which was effective through the 2024 election cycle. In October 2025, the redistricting commission passed a bipartisan congressional map that is effective through the remainder of this decade.

Texas

In August 2025, the Texas legislature passed revised maps, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law. A federal district court in El Paso ruled that the redrawn map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Still, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the decision, permitting the maps to be used for the 2026 elections. 

Utah

The Utah Supreme Court found in 2024 that the legislature had violated the state constitution by enacting legislation allowing partisan gerrymandering despite a 2018 constitutional amendment prohibiting it. In November 2025, following the state Supreme Court’s decision, a state district court judge adopted a new map submitted by plaintiffs as part of litigation that has been ongoing since 2022. In February 2026, the Utah Supreme Court and a federal appeals court denied Utah Republicans’ attempts to overturn the new map. This map will be in effect for the 2026 election unless the U.S. Supreme Court steps in. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to repeal the state constitution’s prohibition against partisan gerrymandering and to expand the state Supreme Court to overturn the 2024 anti-gerrymandering decision.

Virginia

In October 2025, the Virginia legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment to permit redistricting. The legislature passed the proposal again in early January when it convened for a new session. The Virginia Supreme Court has agreed to consider a case challenging the process that led to the redistricting referendum, but declined to prevent the referendum from going forward, as that case is pending. On February 19, a county court granted the Republican National Committee a temporary injunction in a second case, blocking preparation for the referendum. This decision has been appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court. The referendum is scheduled for April 21, 2026.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has two ongoing state court lawsuits over congressional districts drawn by the legislature in 2021. The lawsuits accuse the Republican-majority legislature of partisan gerrymandering and seek new, fairer maps. The litigation, however, is unlikely to be resolved before the 2026 midterm elections.