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Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Sep 27, 2026· Updated

The Missouri Supreme Court Unanimously Pulls the Trump-Backed Congressional Map Out of the November Election and Hands It to the Voters — After It Had Already Been Used in the August Primary, and Nine Weeks Before the Midterms

On September 3, 2026 the Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the congressional map Republicans passed in a 2025 special session at President Trump's urging cannot be used in the November midterms, and that Missourians will instead vote on whether to keep or reject it. Writing for the court, Judge Ginger K. Gooch held that "the referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise," and that the map "did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters." The 2022 map drawn after the 2020 census stays in force for the general election. The map was drawn to break up Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's 5th District — splitting Kansas City across three districts — and was expected to net Republicans one House seat. Opponents organized by People Not Politicians gathered more than 300,000 signatures for a veto referendum in December. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins waited until primary election day in August to reject the petition, on the theory that the referendum process does not reach congressional redistricting. The court rejected that reading. The ruling is, on the Republican side's own account, without precedent: no court had previously pulled a congressional map after a primary had already been run under it and before the general election. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said she would seek immediate relief from the U.S. Supreme Court and called the decision a constitutional crisis; Gov. Mike Kehoe and Hoskins issued statements attacking the court; state Sen. Rick Brattin called the majority "liberal activist." Trump posted that it was a "Dark Day for 'Justice' in Missouri." Cleaver and Rep. Wesley Bell called it a win for voters.

“The Supreme Court of the United States will just not let Missouri have an Election Victory. They continuously, three times now, overrule Judges who came to the correct decisions. Thank you to the Governor, and all of the Great People of Missouri, who are fighting so hard for Fairness and Election Security. Such tremendous Spirit and Love of our Country. I won Missouri BIG, all three times, and I couldn't be more proud of doing so. A great place — I love you all!”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Sep 27, 2026

Sep 17, 2026· Updated

With the House Already Adjourned for the Midterms, the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Drops Four Anti-Gerrymandering Bills — Fitzpatrick Says "Gerrymandering Is a Problem That Both Parties Are Guilty Of," and Jeff Hurd Says Redrawing Districts Midway Through the Decade Is "Wrong"

On September 16, 2026, the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus held a press conference unveiling four bills aimed at ending the mid-decade redistricting war that both parties escalated ahead of the 2026 midterms. The bills were formally introduced the following day. The package came out of a bipartisan task force the caucus stood up earlier in the year to study what it called "extreme partisan gerrymandering," and it arrived the same week the House cancelled its remaining votes and adjourned until after the election — meaning none of the four bills will get a floor vote this Congress. The four bills: - **H.R. 10378 — Problem Solvers TRUST Act** (Transparent Redistricting Under Stable Timelines), led by Reps. Ed Case (D-HI) and Jeff Hurd (R-CO), would limit congressional redistricting to once per decade following the census, barring most mid-decade redraws. - **H.R. 10379 — Problem Solvers MAPS Act** (Mapdrawing Accountability and Principled Standards), led by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA), would require congressional districts to be equal in population, contiguous, reasonably compact, and respectful of communities of interest and existing political boundaries. - **H.R. 10380 — Problem Solvers Independent Commissions Act**, led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), would push states toward independent redistricting commissions by withholding federal election assistance funding from those that decline. - **H.R. 10381 — Problem Solvers COURTS Act** (Nonpartisan Congressional Uniformity and Oversight of Redistricting Trials), led by Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) and Ed Case (D-HI), would standardize how redistricting litigation is handled. Caucus co-chairs Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) led the rollout. Notably, several of the sponsors represent states — New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California — that have been at the center of the redraw fight.

“Congressional districts should be drawn around communities, not political interests. Politicians in states like New York and Texas should not be able to choose their elected representatives.”
Michael Lawler (R-NY) · Sep 17, 2026

A Maryland Judge Throws the Democrats' Mid-Decade Gerrymander Off the November Ballot — Ruling the General Assembly Broke Its Own Deadline and Wrote "Intentionally Misleading" Ballot Language

On August 26, 2026, Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Robert J. Thompson blocked a Democratic-backed constitutional amendment from appearing on Maryland's November general election ballot. The amendment was the vehicle Maryland Democrats had built during an August special session to let the General Assembly redraw the state's congressional map before 2028 — a map that would almost certainly have eliminated the Eastern Shore seat held by Rep. Andy Harris, the state's lone Republican in Congress and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Thompson found three separate defects. Lawmakers missed the statutory deadline they themselves had enacted in April for placing measures on the ballot; the ballot question's claim that it merely "clarifies" the Constitution's compactness standards was intentionally misleading; and the measure violated the single-subject rule by also handing the Maryland Supreme Court original jurisdiction over congressional redistricting suits. "Because the legislature did not follow the very laws it enacted," Thompson wrote, "the court finds the enactment of HB2100 to be legally deficient." Thompson stayed his own order pending appeal, and the state noted an appeal to the Maryland Supreme Court within hours. Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly's two presiding officers said they expect to be vindicated; Harris and Annapolis Republicans treated the ruling as proof that the majority had tried to rewrite the state constitution without following it. The case is the Democratic counterpart to the mid-decade redistricting fights the site has tracked in Texas, Indiana, Florida, Virginia and South Carolina, and its outcome determines whether Maryland can answer those maps before the 2028 cycle.

“I expect this case to receive prompt review, and I look forward to a clear ruling that affirms the General Assembly's constitutional authority.”
Bill Ferguson (D-MD) · Aug 26, 2026

South Carolina Senate Rejects Trump's Redistricting Push, Saving Clyburn's Seat

On May 26, 2026, the South Carolina state Senate rejected President Trump's push to redraw congressional maps before the midterm elections, preserving Rep. Jim Clyburn's majority-Black district. Twelve Republican state senators joined Democrats to defeat cloture on a special session called by Gov. Henry McMaster, citing that early voting had already begun with record turnout. The failed redistricting attempt would have dismantled Clyburn's 6th district — held by the longtime Democratic congressman for over three decades — in an attempt to give Republicans an additional House seat ahead of the midterms. Republican state senators who broke ranks cited concerns about the rushed timeline, the fact that voters were already casting ballots, and the outsized role of Washington consultants in driving the process. The outcome was a significant bipartisan rebuke of Trump's aggressive redistricting campaign, and leaves more than a dozen Congressional Black Caucus members' districts potentially vulnerable in other states where similar efforts continue.

“We have someone in the White House that wants Republicans to ignore the Constitutional principles for which this current map was drawn. A critical number of Republicans did not believe in putting a man over the law.”
Jim Clyburn (D-SC) · May 26, 2026

Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Voter-Approved Redistricting Amendment

On May 8, 2026, the Virginia Supreme Court voted 4-3 to strike down a voter-approved constitutional amendment that would have redrawn Virginia's congressional map to give Democrats an advantage in 10 of the state's 11 seats. The court ruled that Democratic lawmakers violated procedural requirements by holding the first vote on October 31, 2025, after early voting had already begun — with roughly 40% of ballots already cast — depriving over 1.3 million Virginians of the opportunity to weigh the issue when choosing their representatives. The ruling leaves the existing 6-5 Democratic congressional map in place for the 2026 midterm elections. Virginia Democrats immediately appealed to the US Supreme Court, asking the high court to reinstate the congressional map.

“Virginia Democrats' corrupt scheme to rig the map has been crushed in court, restoring fairness and protecting the future of the Commonwealth. The NRCC was proud to lead and fund this fight to uphold the Virginia Constitution and protect fair representation, and this win is yet another sign Republicans have the momentum heading into November. We're on offense, and we're going to win.”
Richard Hudson (R-NC) · May 8, 2026

Tennessee Republicans Unveil Map to Eliminate Lone Democratic Seat

On May 6-7, 2026, Tennessee Republicans introduced, passed, and sent to Gov. Bill Lee a congressional map that splits the Black-majority 9th District — held since 2007 by Democrat Steve Cohen of Memphis — across three Republican-leaning districts, giving Republicans a potential 9-0 sweep. The House passed the map 64-25 and the Senate 25-5, largely along party lines. Lee signed a repeal of the state's 50-year-old prohibition on mid-decade redistricting less than an hour after it cleared the chamber, paving the way for the map to take effect. The effort was called explicitly by Trump and follows the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that dramatically weakened the Voting Rights Act and cleared states to draw maps on partisan grounds.

“Tennessee is a conservative state, and I submit its congressional delegation should reflect that. By passing this map, Tennessee is doing its part to advance common-sense leadership in Washington.”
John Stevens (R-TN) · May 7, 2026

Trump Ousts Five Indiana Republicans Who Blocked Redistricting Push

In Indiana's May 6, 2026 state Senate primaries, Trump-backed challengers defeated five incumbent Republican state senators who had voted against Trump's redistricting push last year. The redistricting bill had failed 31-19 in the Indiana Senate, with 21 Republicans joining Democrats to reject it. Trump vowed in November to primary any Republican who voted against the measure, and groups allied with him spent over $12 million across the seven contested races. The victories — including the defeat of 30-year veteran Travis Holdman, the chamber's third-most powerful Republican — cemented Trump's grip over the GOP and sent a stark warning to any Republican who crosses him on redistricting or other issues ahead of 2026 midterms.

“There are eight Great Patriots running against long seated RINOS — Let's see how those RINOS do tonight!”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · May 6, 2026

Louisiana Suspends US House Primaries After SCOTUS Redistricting Ruling

After the Supreme Court's April 29, 2026 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais struck down the state's existing congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the state's May 16 U.S. House primaries — even though mail-in ballots had already been sent — to allow the legislature to draw a new map. The legislature began public hearings on May 4, with lawmakers signaling they would likely keep the majority-Black district based in Baton Rouge while eliminating the New Orleans-based majority-Black district currently held by Rep. Troy Carter, who would face losing his seat under the leading proposal.

“Louisiana deserves two seats where Black voters get a say in who represents them.”
Troy Carter (D-LA) · May 5, 2026

Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais

On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana's congressional map creating a second majority-Black district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, effectively gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion for the six conservative justices, holding that states can almost never use race as a factor when drawing maps to comply with the VRA — including when doing so is intended to remedy prior discrimination. The ruling rewrites the standard for bringing a Section 2 claim in a way that critics say makes it nearly impossible to use the law to protect minority voting rights in redistricting. The decision carries sweeping national implications. Analysts predict it could allow Republican-controlled legislatures across the South to redraw congressional maps before the 2026 midterms in ways that reduce minority representation, potentially shifting as many as 19 additional seats into the GOP column. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves called a special session beginning around May 20 to redraw state Supreme Court districts. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said the ruling requires Georgia to draw new maps before 2028 but declined to call a special session for 2026. Civil rights groups called it the most devastating blow to voting rights in generations.

“The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais restores fairness to our redistricting process and allows states to pass electoral maps that reflect the will of the voters, not the will of federal judges. It is clear that Callais requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle.”
Brian Kemp (R-GA) · May 1, 2026

DeSantis Releases Florida Congressional Map to Create 24-4 Republican Advantage

On April 27, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a new Florida congressional map targeting four Democratic incumbents, which passed the Republican-controlled legislature in a rushed process and was sent to DeSantis for signature. The map would create a 24-4 Republican advantage in Florida's congressional delegation, targeting Reps. Kathy Castor (Tampa), Darren Soto (Orlando), Lois Frankel, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (both Miami). DeSantis first released the map to Fox News before Florida lawmakers had seen it. The legislature held hearings one day and voted the next, passing the House 83-28 and Senate 21-17 along party lines. The redistricting blitz followed the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which effectively gutted VRA Section 2 protections and opened the door for Republican-controlled states to redraw maps before the 2026 midterms. The new Florida map faces legal challenges under the state's Fair Districts constitutional amendment, which bans partisan gerrymandering.

“Governor DeSantis drew this map himself, released it to Fox News before showing it to legislators, gave lawmakers one day to review it, and is now rushing it through. This is exactly the kind of anti-democratic power grab our Fair Districts amendment was designed to prevent.”
Kathy Castor (D-FL) · Apr 28, 2026