Mid-Decade Gerrymandering Surges Across U.S. States Ahead 2026 Elections

President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, sparking a notable wave of mid-decade gerrymandering across both Republican and Democratic states. States like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have approved new congressional maps aimed at increasing Republican seats, while California has proposed a Democratic-favorable redistricting plan to counteract these efforts. Political analysts, including Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report, view Trump's gerrymandering campaign as a risky gamble that is unlikely to prevent the historical trend of the president's party losing seats in midterm elections, despite potential modest Republican gains through redistricting. The national House map is expected to shift slightly to the right, but Democrats may still have the advantage when all changes are finalized. This redistricting battle highlights the high stakes for control of the House, which impacts key policy areas such as tax legislation. Overall, while redistricting may influence the balance of power, historical patterns and voter turnout dynamics remain critical factors in the 2026 midterms.