Democrats are taking the fight over future House maps down ballot, with the super PAC Forward Majority planning to spend $30 million on two dozen state legislative races this year. Why it matters: They're betting that as few as eight statehouse races could help determine who controls redistricting for six U.S. House seats ahead of 2028. - "We're in the Wild West now," said Leslie Martes, the chief executive officer of Forward Majority. - "There are 7,000 legislative districts across the country. Not all of them are up this year, but you've got to make sure that you're playing in the right places with the resources that you have," she said. - The group is eyeing seats such as the Arizona State Senate's 17th District, currently held…
Values show the Democratic gain needed in every district to reach 218 seats. Alabama's attempted redistricting remains on appeal. Data: Axios analysis of data from The Downballot, MIT Election Lab and Dave's Redistricting App ; Chart: Andrew Pantazi/Axios Republican-led states have redrawn enough congressional districts to force Democrats to outperform their 2024 national results by nearly 5 percentage points if they want to retake the majority in the 2026 midterms. Why it matters: Control of the House will shape whether President Trump will be allowed to govern largely unchecked during his final two years, or left facing a chamber armed with subpoenas and oversight . - Democrats need to flip three seats to win the House, assuming…
A Florida judge kept Gov. Ron DeSantis' new congressional map alive Tuesday, allowing the state to implement a Republican-friendly plan while three state lawsuits continue. Why it matters: The national redistricting fight is a race to pre-write who controls Congress before voters ever see a ballot. - Control of the U.S. House could turn on seats manufactured in state capitals as part of a mid-decade redistricting war started by President Trump. - In 2010 nearly 63% of Florida voters approved a ban on partisan gerrymandering, but DeSantis' general counsel told lawmakers the state doesn't have to abide by that ban. The latest: The ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge Joshua Hawkes, a DeSantis appointee, keeps DeSantis' map in place…
Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Montgomery, Alabama, to push back against conservative states' efforts to dismantle congressional districts that helped secure Black political representation.
Virginia Democrats filed an emergency appeal Monday after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the state's redistricting referendum last week, ruling that the legislative process in which the referendum was created was unconstitutional.
The new map was drawn by Democrats and approved by Virginia voters, but the state Supreme Court declared the referendum null and void because lawmakers failed to follow the proper procedures to get the issue on the ballot.
State officials had asked the justices to step in to allow the state to use a congressional map in the midterms that was drawn by Democrats and recently approved by voters.
State lawmakers redrew their congressional maps in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and barred race-based congressional districts.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) will give remarks Friday morning, just days after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a new GOP-friendly map into law that carved up his district. Cohen has vowed to take legal action after the Memphis-based 9th Congressional District — the state's only majority-Black district — was gutted amid Republicans' efforts to flip his seat red in November. #stevecohen #tennessee #redistricting
