US Midterms 2026: A History of Gerrymandering
Both parties have pursued mid-decade redistricting in 12 states, with projected gains reaching 15 seats for Republicans and 6 for Democrats, analysts said.
- Twelve states have redrawn their Congressional maps ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, marking the largest wave of mid-decade redistricting since the 19th century, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
- Both Republicans and Democrats are redrawing District boundaries to secure additional Congressional seats, utilizing strategies such as packing—concentrating rival voters into overwhelming margins—and cracking, which spreads opposition voters across districts.
- Republicans in Texas initiated the process seeking 15 additional seats, while California responded with Proposition 50, a referendum approving a map designed to give Democrats five more seats, effectively offsetting Republican gains.
- Five other states attempted to redraw Maps but failed; in Georgia and Kansas, legislative proposals died in the Senate after failing to secure sufficient votes to override gubernatorial or parliamentary opposition.
- Political consequences of subtle changes in District color remain significant despite uncertain projections, as estimates rely on outdated polls and past election data rather than current voter sentiment.
19 Articles
19 Articles
If the modification of electoral cards for partisan purposes is an old practice in the United States, it has gained unprecedented proportions in advance of the mid-term elections on 3 November. Here is how this practice works.
El Periódico
There is a civil war in the United States that includes a struggle for borders: those that delimit electoral districts to elect the 435 members of the House of Representatives. It is a battle to manipulate the layout of those districts to favor one party in front of the other. It has always happened, but in this electoral cycle it has reached levels not seen until now. And it is won by the Republican Party.Continue reading....
America's long history of gerrymandering and its role in this year's midterms
Following partisan battles over political maps, nearly 35 million Americans will vote in congressional districts redrawn ahead of this year's midterms. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Judy Woodruff explores the origins of gerrymandering and why this centuries-old practice remains one of the most powerful tools in American politics. It's part of her series, Crossroads: America at 250.
Q&A: When it comes to democratic backsliding, our federalist system is a two-way street
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the signs of democratic backsliding are everywhere across the U.S. political landscape. Troubling signs include the Trump administration's demand for state voter roll data and interference with mail-in voting, the pressure it applied to Georgia election officials to reverse Joe Biden's victory in that state in the 2020 election and, of course, extreme partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts.
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