President Donald Trump's call for Republicans to redraw U.S. House districts ahead of next year's election has triggered an unusual outbreak of mid-decade gerrymandering among both Republican- and Democratic-led states.
Democrats need to gain just three seats to wrest control of the House away from Republicans. And Trump hopes redistricting can help stave off historical trends, in which the president's party typically loses seats in midterm elections.
Here's what states are doing:
States that passed new US House maps
Texas — The first state to take up congressional redistricting at Trump's prodding. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new U.S. House map into law on Aug. 29 that could help Republicans win five additional seats. Republican currently hold 25 of the 38 seats. On Nov. 18, a federal court blocked the new map from being used, citing evidence that it was "racially gerrymandered.'' Abbott vowed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
California — The first Democratic-led state to counter Trump's redistricting push. A new U.S. House map approved Nov. 4 by voters circumvents districts adopted by an independent citizens commission after the 2020 census and replaces them with districts that could help Democrats win five additional seats. Democrats currently hold 43 of the 52 seats. The U.S. Department of Justice has joined a Republican lawsuit challenging the new districts.
Missouri — The second Republican-led state to approve new House districts sought by Trump. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a new map into law Sept. 28 that could help Republicans win an additional seat by reshaping a Democratic-held district in Kansas City. Republicans currently hold six of Missouri's eight seats. Opponents are gathering signatures for a petition that could force a statewide referendum on the map and have filed several lawsuits.
North Carolina — The third Republican-led state to approve new House districts sought by Trump. The Republican-led General Assembly gave final approval Oct. 22 to changes that could help Republicans win an additional seat by reshaping a Democratic-held district in eastern North Carolina. No gubernatorial approval is needed. Republicans currently hold 10 of the 14 seats. The revised map faces a legal challenge.