On this episode: Several states are moving to redraw their congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, reviving a practice that has happened before but rarely on this scale. Texas has already acted, with Republicans pushing through a new map that could net them multiple House seats. In response, Democrats in California are advancing a ballot measure that would suspend the state’s independent commission and open the door to a more favorable map of their own. As a result, nearly a dozen states are engaged in redistricting efforts of their own, with huge implications not just for the balance of power in the House — but the Americans who live in the districts in question.
To break down what’s happening and why it matters, Erin Covey — Editor of U.S. House coverage at the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter — explains the political strategies at play and the legal uncertainties that surround them. She walks through the domino effect of Texas’s decision, how California, Missouri, Ohio, and Utah fit into the bigger picture, and why deadlines in other states are quickly closing in.
At the same time, a looming Supreme Court case from Louisiana could reshape the legal boundaries for redistricting nationwide.The case revisits Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and carries major implications for how states consider race when drawing districts — with potential ripple effects across the South and beyond.
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*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.