Two Court Decisions Have Unleashed an Era of Perpetual Redistricting

Key Points:

• Eight states have redrawn their congressional districts since last summer, with at least a dozen more expected to do so next year as both parties intensify efforts to gain control of the House.
• Four states are currently considering new congressional or judicial maps for partisan advantage that could be implemented before the fall midterms.
• The traditional once-a-decade redistricting process is shifting toward continuous efforts by both parties to exploit opportunities for partisan gerrymandering whenever possible.
• The States Project is targeting six states to influence state legislatures and protect or add up to nine congressional seats for the 2028 cycle, while Democrats also plan to increase redistricting referendums in blue states.
• The recent redistricting surge was triggered by a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated Louisiana’s House map as a racial gerrymander, prompting Republican-led states to pursue aggressive redistricting aligned with former President Trump’s strategy to retain House power.