Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the normal redistricting cycle.

Since the Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, a case concerning the constitutionality of Louisiana’s congressional map and the rights of Black voters across the country to access fair representation in elections, a lot has changed.

The Callais decision struck down Louisiana’s map that gave historic representation to Black Louisianians by providing two majority-Black districts. These districts gave Black voters and other voters of color the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Furthermore, the court’s decision eviscerated one of the country’s most sacred civil rights protections, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

The ruling was a devastating blow, as it now permits states to use partisan gerrymandering as a wholesale excuse to deny Black voters a voice in their government. In other words, under the Supreme Court’s new view of Section 2, a state can, without legal consequence, systematically dilute minority citizens’ voting power. And now, in Callais’ wake, we are already witnessing fair districts across the country vanish as legislatures aim to gut representation for voters of color without checkpoints from the courts.

Need a refresher on why congressional redistricting is so important to our daily lives? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is the process by which state legislatures or other redistricting bodies redraw the boundaries of electoral districts. Redistricting typically coincides with the release of the U.S. census results, which occurs every 10 years at the beginning of each decade. But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade — an unusual occurrence. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about the off-cycle redistricting happening right now is that legislators are sometimes using the pretext of partisanship to lock in power at the expense of Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids. Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Rules about how voting maps are drawn can impact every part of your life. When courts rule in favor of fair maps, fair access and representation become the standard. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, accessible health care, and so much more.

LDF is closely tracking additional redistricting developments as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways. Below are state-by-state redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch, published on May 8.

Alabama: 2023 DISCRIMINATORY MAP IN PLACE FOR DELAYED ELECTIONS

• On May 11, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated Alabama’s current court-ordered congressional map, even though voting had already begun in the state’s May 19 primary election.

• This decision cleared the way for Alabama to reinstate a 2023 map that a district court previously ruled was unconstitutional and intentionally discriminatory. Because of a measure approved by the Alabama state legislature on May 8, the governor was able to reschedule the primary elections for four districts.

• Several civil rights groups have already challenged the enactment of the 2023 map, seeking to block voting under the discriminatory plan.

• Alabama’s map has seven congressional districts.

• Over 1.3 million Black people reside in Alabama.

South Carolina: NEW MAP BLOCKED BY LEGISLATURE FOR NOW

• In a redistricting twist this week, South Carolina lawmakers blocked a proposal to extend the state’s regular legislative session in order to take up redistricting plans.

• However, South Carolina’s governor is likely to order a special legislative session, which would give lawmakers time to solely consider redistricting plans for the state’s congressional districts.

• The state’s most recently proposed redistricting plan appears to target its only historically Black district, represented by long-serving Representative James Clyburn.

• Early voting for South Carolina’s primary elections begins on May 26.

• South Carolina’s current map has seven congressional districts.

• Over 1.4 million Black people reside in South Carolina, over 25% of the state’s population.

Louisiana: NEW MAP PASSED STATE SENATE

• A new map that eliminates a majority-Black congressional district passed out of the Louisiana State Senate on May 14.

• This map is similar to Louisiana’s 2022 voting map, which was found to violate the Voting Rights Act.

• Through an April 30 executive order, Louisiana’s governor and secretary of state suspended Louisiana’s primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives until the legislature can draw a new map, even though thousands of ballots have already been returned. Several civil rights organizations have challenged the executive order in state and federal courts.

• The Callais ruling struck down Louisiana’s previous congressional map.

• Louisiana’s current map has six congressional districts.

• Over 1.4 million Black people reside in Louisiana, nearly one-third of the state’s population.

Virginia: BLOCKED MAP APPEALED TO U.S. SUPREME COURT

• Virginia voters approved the state legislature’s redistricting plan in an April special election. However, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved map on May 8 based on a procedural technicality — not anything to do with the map’s composition. Now, proponents of the new Virginia map have appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Recently, the FBI raided the office of Virginia lawmaker Louise Lucas, who was a chief proponent of the state’s redistricting plan. The FBI has yet to announce any impending charges or details related to what prompted the investigation.

• Virginia’s current map has 11 congressional districts.

• Over 1.7 million Black people reside in Virginia, making up 20% of the population.

Georgia: NEW MAP COMING FOR 2028 ELECTIONS

• Georgia’s governor officially ordered a special legislative session to begin on June 17 to address redistricting plans for the state’s congressional map.

• Notably, the special session will focus on redistricting plans for the 2028 elections, which will not affect the maps currently in use for the 2026 midterms.

• Georgia’s current map has 14 congressional districts.

• Over 3.7 million Black people reside in Georgia, around one-third of the state’s population.

Mississippi: NEW MAP COMING FOR 2027 ELECTIONS

• Mississippi canceled a special legislative session scheduled to begin on May 20 to address redistricting plans. State officials have announced they will redistrict in 2027, after the midterm elections

• Mississippi’s primary elections concluded two months before the Callais decision, in March.

• Mississippi’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Over 1.1 million Black people reside in Mississippi, over one-third of the state’s population.

Keep an Eye On:

• In FLORIDA and TENNESSEE, civil and voting rights groups have already filed court challenges to the newly enacted discriminatory maps. A hearing will take place on May 20 regarding the Tennessee map to determine whether a temporary order will be issued to block it ahead of the midterm elections. And a hearing will take place in Florida on May 15, consolidating three separate challenges that aim to block, at least temporarily, the Florida map from use in the summer’s primary elections.

How Can You Get Involved

As these redistricting updates demonstrate, state legislatures are already rapidly moving to pass discriminatory maps post-Callais, so it’s more critical than ever to protect voting rights. The Supreme Court’s sustained attack on the VRA demands that we stand together to defend the right to vote, build community power, and continue the work generations before us began.

Ahead of any election, you should: make sure you’re registered to vote; create a voting plan with friends and family, find your polling place, know what forms of ID are required at the polls in your state; vote early, if you’re able; and research what’s on your ballot. There are local, state, and federal elections happening across the country.

And if you’re interested in getting more involved, you can sign up to become an Election Worker or a nonpartisan volunteer; encourage your workplace to make Election Day a paid holiday; or organize child care for your community so everyone can vote.

And remember to save and share the number for the National Election Protection Hotline (866-OUR-VOTE). You can call the hotline with voting questions or to report issues with voting access.

Previous Updates

All states featured here have undergone redistricting updates since our May 8 issue of Redistricting Watch. For information from previous issues, please check out the Redistricting Watch tab on LDF’s Substack page.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states hurry through redistricting efforts. Lawmakers are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures during current state legislative sessions.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the normal redistricting cycle.

Since our last issue, a lot has changed. On April 29, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case Louisiana v. Callais, a case concerning the constitutionality of Louisiana’s congressional map and the rights of Black voters across the country to access fair representation in elections. The decision struck down Louisiana’s map that gave historic representation to Black Louisianians by providing two majority-Black districts that allowed Black voters and other voters of color the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Furthermore, the court’s decision eviscerated one of the country’s most sacred civil rights protections, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Need a refresher on why congressional redistricting is so important to our daily lives? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is the process by which state legislatures or other redistricting bodies redraw the boundaries of electoral districts. Redistricting typically coincides with the release of the U.S. census results, which occurs every 10 years at the beginning of each decade. But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade — an unusual occurrence. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about the off-cycle redistricting happening right now is that legislators are sometimes using the pretext of partisanship to lock in power at the expense of Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids. Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Rules about how voting maps are drawn can impact every part of your life. When courts rule in favor of fair maps, fair access and representation become the standard. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, accessible health care, and so much more.

LDF is closely tracking additional redistricting developments as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways. Below are state-by-state redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch, published on March 13.

Florida: NEW MAP PASSED POST-CALLAIS

• During a special legislative session in the hours immediately following the Callais ruling, the Florida legislature passed a new congressional map, and the governor has since signed it into law ahead of the 2026 elections.

• The map is currently facing several legal challenges under the Florida Constitution’s explicit prohibition on partisan redistricting.

• Florida’s current map has 28 congressional districts.

• Over 1.7 million Black voters reside in Florida.

Tennessee: NEW MAP PASSED POST-CALLAIS

• In nearly record time following the Callais decision, the Tennessee legislature proposed and passed a new congressional map that appears to dilute Black voting power by carving up the city of Memphis into separate districts. The new map eliminated the only majority-Black district included in the old map.

• The new map was signed into law by the governor ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. It currently faces legal challenges based on its constitutionality.

• Tennessee’s current map has nine congressional districts.

• Over 1.2 million Black people reside in Tennessee.

Alabama: NEW MAP BLOCKED FOR NOW

• On May 8, Alabama’s state legislature approved a measure that would allow the governor to suspend the current primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives set for May 19, so long as the courts approve Alabama’s plan to draw new maps.

• Alabama is currently bound by a court order to use its current congressional map until 2030 in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan. The state has asked a federal court to lift that order based on the Supreme Court’s Callais ruling.

• The legislature is currently working on a redistricting plan to put a new congressional map in place, despite voters already having cast ballots in Alabama’s current primary for the 2026 midterm elections.

• Alabama’s current map has seven congressional districts.

• Over 1.3 million Black people reside in Alabama.

Mississippi: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING POST-CALLAIS

• Mississippi will hold a special legislative session to discuss redistricting plans beginning on May 20.

• Before the Callais decision, Mississippi’s governor declared that a special session on redistricting would occur exactly 21 days after any ruling in the case.

• Mississippi’s primary elections concluded two months prior to the decision, in March.

• Mississippi’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Over 1.1 million Black people reside in Mississippi.

Louisiana: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING POST-CALLAIS

• Louisiana’s governor and secretary of state, through an executive order, suspended Louisiana’s primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives until the legislature can draw a new map, even though thousands of ballots have already been returned in the election.

• The Callais ruling struck down Louisiana’s previous congressional map.

• Several civil rights organizations have challenged the executive order in state and federal courts.

• The state legislature will begin discussing redistricting plans on May 8.

• Louisiana’s current map has six congressional districts.

• Over 1.4 million Black people reside in Louisiana.

Virginia: NEW MAP BLOCKED BY STATE SUPREME COURT

• Virginia voters approved the state legislature’s redistricting plan in an April special election. However, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the voter-approved map on May 8 based on a procedural technicality — not anything to do with the map’s composition.

• A Virginia state court previously ruled that Virginia’s legislature did not follow the proper procedure to allow the redistricting process to move forward when it voted to approve a state constitutional amendment on redistricting. Democratic lawmakers appealed the decision in hopes of blocking the ruling, and the state Supreme Court allowed the special election to proceed.

• Recently, the FBI raided the office of Virginia lawmaker Louise Lucas, who was a chief proponent of the state’s redistricting plan. The FBI has yet to announce any impending charges or details related to what prompted the investigation.

• A recent poll suggests that 51% of Virginians support current redistricting efforts.

• Lawmakers have expressed interest in flipping two to three of the state’s congressional districts.

• Virginia’s current map has 11 congressional districts.

• Over 1.7 million Black people reside in Virginia, making up 20% of the population.

Maryland: NEW MAP DIED IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION

• As Maryland’s legislative season drew to a close, the Maryland redistricting proposal did not move forward in time to go into place for the 2026 elections. The Maryland House passed the redistricting bill, but it stalled and eventually died in the Senate.

• Maryland Governor Wes Moore originally launched a redistricting commission in the fall of 2025 to explore drafting new congressional maps. The commission voted to recommend new congressional maps, which led to the introduction of a redistricting bill in the state legislature.

• A recent poll by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, found that 81% of Marylanders polled are not in favor of redistricting for partisan gain.

• Maryland’s current map has eight congressional districts.

• Black voters make up 33% of all eligible voters in Maryland.

Keep an Eye On:

• In SOUTH CAROLINA, lawmakers have approved a measure that will allow them to take up redistricting after the end of the normal legislative session. Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced a redistricting plan that appears to target the state’s sole historically Black district, represented by long-serving Representative James Clyburn.

• In GEORGIA, lawmakers have called for a special session to discuss redistricting after the Callais ruling. Still, Georgia’s governor has insisted that the state’s congressional map will remain in place for the 2026 elections. However, the governor did assert that the Callais ruling mandates changes to Georgia’s congressional map for the 2028 elections.

• In UTAH, Republican officials failed in their attempts to undermine the fair map instated by a district court judge, after the judge had ruled that the state’s previous map illegally overrode an independent redistricting commission. 85% of registered Utah voters support an independent redistricting commission. Most recently, state officials tried to put the question of repealing the state’s anti-gerrymandering law before voters in a special election, but they failed to gather the required number of signatures to put it on the ballot.

Previous Updates

All states featured here have undergone redistricting updates since our March 13 issue of Redistricting Watch. For information from previous issues, please check out the Redistricting Watch tab on LDF’s Substack page.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to initiating explicit redistricting efforts. Lawmakers are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures during current state legislative sessions.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the normal redistricting cycle.

Missed our last issue? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is the process by which state legislatures or other redistricting bodies redraw the boundaries of electoral districts. Redistricting typically coincides with the release of the U.S. census results, which occurs every 10 years at the beginning of each decade. But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade — an unusual occurrence. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about the off-cycle redistricting happening right now is that legislators are sometimes using the pretext of partisanship to lock in power at the expense of Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids.

Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Rules about how voting maps are drawn can impact every part of your life. When courts rule in favor of fair maps, fair access and representation become the standard. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, accessible health care, and so much more.

LDF is closely tracking additional redistricting developments as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways. Below are state-by-state redistricting updates that have occurred since our last issue of Redistricting Watch was published on Jan. 30.

Maryland: NEW MAP UNLIKELY TO PASS

• With time running out on Maryland’s legislative season, it’s unlikely that the Maryland redistricting proposal will move forward in time to go into place for the 2026 elections. The Maryland House passed the redistricting bill, but it has now stalled in the state senate.

• Maryland Governor Wes Moore originally launched a redistricting commission in the fall of 2025 to explore drafting new congressional maps. The commission voted in favor of recommending new congressional maps, which led to a redistricting bill being introduced in the state legislature.

• A recent poll by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, found that 81% of Marylanders polled are not in favor of redistricting for partisan gain.

• Maryland’s current map has eight congressional districts.

• Black voters make up 33% of all eligible voters in Maryland.

Virginia: NEW MAP BEFORE VOTERS AMID LEGAL CHALLENGE

• The Supreme Court of Virginia is currently reviewing the legality of the new congressional map proposal that passed out of the Virginia legislature earlier this year. However, the Court affirmed that the new map can still go before the voters as planned this spring.

• Early voting on the new map began last week and will end with a special election on April 21.

• A Virginia state court previously ruled that the Virginia legislature did not follow the proper procedure to allow the redistricting process to move forward when it voted to approve a state constitutional amendment on redistricting. Democratic lawmakers appealed the decision in hopes of blocking the ruling, and the State Supreme Court allowed the special election to proceed.

• A recent poll suggests that 51% of Virginians support current redistricting efforts.

• Lawmakers have expressed interest in flipping two to three of the state’s congressional districts.

• Virginia’s current map has 11 congressional districts.

• Over 1.7 million Black people reside in Virginia, making up 20% of the population.

Florida: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• Ahead of a special legislative session called by Florida’s governor for April 20-April 24 to consider redistricting, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected a petition to block the special session.

• Florida’s leadership previously expressed a preference to delay the redistricting conversation until a Supreme Court ruling is issued in Louisiana v. Callais, which could affect key portions of the Voting Rights Act. However, a ruling has yet to be issued.

• The Florida Constitution explicitly prohibits lawmakers from redrawing maps with expressly partisan aims.

• Florida’s current map has 28 congressional districts

• Over 1.7 million Black voters reside in Florida.

New York: NEW MAP TEMPORARILY BLOCKED

• On Jan. 21, a trial court in New York ruled that the state’s congressional map, specifically the 11th congressional district, dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino voters. However, the U.S. Supreme Court recently intervened in the process, blocking the redistricting process until the case proceeds through the New York appeals courts.

• This decision to block the redistricting process is at odds with the Court’s prior decisions in Texas and California allowing new maps to stand.

• Before the Supreme Court intervened, the previous court order directed the New York Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the district boundaries by Feb. 6. Republican officials appealed this decision on Jan. 26.

• New York’s current map has 26 congressional districts.

• Over 2.4 million eligible Black voters reside in New York.

Keep an Eye On:

• In MISSOURI, a circuit court recently ruled that the state’s newly redistricted congressional map can stand after a lawsuit alleged that the map diluted Black voters’ political power. However, it’s still not a guarantee that the map will be used for the 2026 midterms, as additional lawsuits are currently moving through the Missouri Supreme Court.

• In SOUTH CAROLINA, a redistricting plan was introduced in the legislature that appears to target the state’s sole historically Black district, represented by long-serving Congressman James Clyburn. The bill was debated at a House hearing, but has not moved forward.

• In WISCONSIN, two redistricting lawsuits are currently playing out in court that could affect the state’s congressional map. Both cases are before three-judge panels. While it’s likely that these cases will go to trial in 2026, it’s unclear whether rulings will be issued and enacted in time for the 2026 midterms. Additionally, Wisconsin’s governor recently called for a special legislative session to ban partisan gerrymandering, something which faces significant opposition in the current Wisconsin legislature.

• In UTAH, Republican officials are making their latest move in their attempts to undermine the fair map instated by a district court judge, after she had ruled that the state’s previous map illegally overrode an independent redistricting commission. 85% of registered Utah voters support an independent redistricting commission. However, on March 9, officials passed a measure on the last day of the legislature’s calendar that will clear the way for a ballot initiative to legalize partisan gerrymanders in the state.

• In COLORADO, state officials and, most recently, a sitting U.S. Senator, have increasingly spoken out about the possibility of redistricting. While it’s almost certain the legislature will not redraw map lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, multiple Colorado organizations have been fundraising and organizing to put a ballot initiative before Colorado voters that would allow them to bypass the state’s redistricting commission and let the legislature draw a new map for the 2028elections.

Previous Updates

All states featured here are those that have had redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch published on Jan. 30. For information from previous issues, please check out Redistricting Watch 1.0, Redistricting Watch 2.0, Redistricting Watch 3.0, Redistricting Watch 4.0, Redistricting Watch 5.0, and Redistricting Watch 6.0.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to initiating explicit redistricting efforts. Lawmakers are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures during current state legislative sessions.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the normal redistricting cycle.

Missed our last issue? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is the process by which state legislatures or other redistricting bodies redraw the boundaries of electoral districts. Redistricting typically coincides with the release of U.S. census results, which occurs every 10 years at the beginning of each decade. But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade — an unusual occurrence. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about the off-cycle redistricting happening right now is that legislators are sometimes using the pretext of partisanship to lock in power at the expense of Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids.

Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

In this issue of Redistricting Watch, we’re highlighting a local redistricting story that could have a big impact on Black political power in the South.

In DeSoto County, Mississippi, Black residents are long overdue for fair representation in their local government. And the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is working with local community members to finally secure it.

In Harris v. DeSoto County, LDF filed a lawsuit alleging that the current DeSoto County electoral map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the political power of Black DeSoto County residents.

All of the county’s five voting districts were drawn to maintain majority-white representation and splinter Black population centers. Not one of those 25 county offices (there are five per district) is currently held by a Black representative, even though the Black population has grown from 12% to 36% since the 2000 census. These offices include positions on the board of supervisors, board of education, election commission, justice court, and constables.

DeSoto County’s current map denies Black voters any opportunity to elect their preferred candidates. And this denial of full and equal voting rights causes real harm to Black communities, who don’t have a voice in decisions affecting them, their families, and their livelihoods.

The trial is set to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the Northern District of Mississippi. It’s expected to last for two weeks.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

And while a trial over voting in a small Mississippi county might seem worlds away from your day-to-day life, the ramifications of court rulings on redistricting cases can have wide-ranging effects. Rules about how voting maps are drawn can impact every part of your life. When courts rule in favor of fair maps, fair access and representation becomes the standard. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, more accessible health care, and so much more.

LDF is closely tracking additional redistricting developments as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways. Below are state-by-state redistricting updates that have occurred since our last issue of Redistricting Watch was published on Dec. 22.

Maryland: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• The Maryland House Rules Executive Nominations Committee held a hearing this week on redistricting legislation. Maryland’s governor, Wes Moore, testified during the hearing along with hundreds of additional Marylanders.

• Moore launched a redistricting commission in the fall of 2025 to explore drafting new congressional maps. The commission voted last week to move forward with recommending new congressional maps to the state legislature.

• A recent poll by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County found that 81% of Marylanders polled are not in favor of redistricting for partisan gain.

• A showdown over redistricting began in October 2025 between the governor and leadership in the Maryland Senate. The Senate President then issued a letter in November opposing any current plan to redistrict the state’s electoral map.

• Maryland’s current map has eight congressional districts.

• Black voters make up 33% of all eligible voters in Maryland.

Virginia: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• A Virginia state court ruled this week that the Virginia legislature did not follow the proper procedure to allow the redistricting process to move forward when they passed two votes to approve a state constitutional amendment on redistricting. Democratic lawmakers have appealed the decision in hopes of blocking the ruling, which would allow redistricting to proceed.

• Before the court ruling, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill proposing a special election on April 21, in which Virginia voters would be able to approve or reject the redistricting proposal.

• A recent poll suggests that 51% of Virginians support current redistricting efforts.

• Lawmakers have expressed interest in flipping two to three of the state’s congressional districts.

• Virginia’s current map has 11 congressional districts.

• Over 1.7 million Black people reside in Virginia, making up 20% of the population.

Florida: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• On Jan. 7, Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, formally announced a special legislative session for April 20-24 to consider potential maps to redistrict the state.

• Florida’s leadership expressed a preference to delay the redistricting conversation until a Supreme Court ruling is issued in Louisiana v. Callais, which could affect key portions of the Voting Rights Act.

• The Florida Constitution explicitly prohibits lawmakers from redrawing maps with expressly partisan aims.

• Florida’s current map has 28 congressional districts

• Over 1.7 million Black voters reside in Florida.

New York: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• On Jan. 21, a trial court in New York ruled that the state’s congressional map, specifically the 11th congressional district, dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino voters.

• The court directed the New York Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the district borders by Feb. 6. If the deadline passes, the state legislature will likely be allowed to take up the task of proposing new congressional district lines.

• Republican officials appealed this decision on Jan. 26.

• New York’s current map has 26 congressional districts.

• Over 2.4 million eligible Black voters reside in New York.

KEEP AN EYE ON:

• In SOUTH CAROLINA, a state legislator recently published a draft congressional map that appears to target the state’s sole historically Black district, represented by long-serving Congressman James Clyburn. The legislator announced that he plans to introduce legislation to begin the redistricting process in January.

• In WISCONSIN, two redistricting lawsuits are currently playing out in court that could affect the state’s congressional map. Both cases are before three-judge panels. While it’s likely that these cases will go to trial in 2026, there’s doubt about whether rulings will be issued and enacted in time for the 2026 midterms.

• In UTAH, Republican officials are still attempting to gather enough signatures to repeal Utah’s voter-approved independent redistricting law, which two-thirds of Utahns currently support. The law, known as Prop 4, provided the basis for a state district court judge to block Utah’s previous congressional map, after the judge ruled that the legislature illegally repealed Prop 4 in an attempt to bypass an independent redistricting commission to draw a new congressional map.

• In COLORADO, state officials and, most recently, a sitting U.S. Senator, have increasingly spoken out about the possibility of redistricting. While it’s unlikely the legislature will redraw map lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, elected officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of putting a redrawn map before voters on the ballot in 2026, which would allow the map to go into effect for the 2028 elections if approved.

• In WASHINGTON, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would put a ballot measure before Washington voters. The measure could amend the state’s constitution to allow the legislature to conduct mid-decade redistricting.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

All states featured here are those that have had redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch published on Dec. 22. For information from previous issues, please check out Redistricting Watch 1.0, Redistricting Watch 2.0, Redistricting Watch 3.0, Redistricting Watch 4.0, and Redistricting Watch 5.0.

ON THE HORIZON

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to initiating explicit redistricting efforts. Legislators are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures during current state legislative sessions.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the normal redistricting cycle.

Missed our last issue? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is the process by which state legislatures or redistricting bodies redraw the boundaries of electoral districts. Redistricting typically coincides with the release of U.S. census results, which normally happens every 10 years. But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade, an unusual occurrence. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about this is that, with some of these and other congressional maps, legislators are using the pretext of partisanship to harm Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids.

Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Drawing voting maps in statehouses might seem abstract or worlds away from your day-to-day. But the district you vote in can affect every part of your life. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, more accessible health care, and so much more.

LDF is closely tracking state updates as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways.

State Updates Since Nov. 26

Texas: RACIALLY DISCRIMINATORY MAP UPHELD BY SUPREME COURT

• On Dec. 4, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas’ newly drawn map, which further weakens electoral opportunities for Black and Latino Texans, would stay in place for the 2026 midterm elections.

• In November, a federal court had blocked Texas’ redrawn 2025 map from going into effect, determining that Texas engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, thereby harming Black and Latino voters.

• LDF had previously filed an amicus brief in the legal challenge to the map, arguing that the court should block Texas’ newly enacted, racially discriminatory map from taking effect before the 2026 elections.

• LDF staff who attended the redistricting hearings held by the legislature when the map was being developed reported that the majority of public testimony opposed any off-cycle congressional redistricting under the current circumstances. Public testimony also cautioned that the maps proposed by the legislature would harm Black Texans and other people of color.

• The 2025 congressional map aims to flip five of Texas's 38 congressional districts.

• Texas is home to the largest number of eligible Black voters in the country.

Indiana: DISCRIMINATORY MAP BLOCKED BY STATE SENATE

• The Indiana State Senate blocked the passage of a map on Dec. 11. This map would have reduced opportunities for Black voters within the state.

• Republicans in Indiana have expressed their desire to flip two congressional districts, but some party members consistently indicated that they didn’t believe they have the votes in the statehouse to see this effort through.

• A recent survey from Change Research says 52% of Hoosiers do not support any effort to change Indiana’s electoral map.

• In August, Indiana lawmakers traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with federal officials about off-cycle redistricting.

• Indiana’s current map has nine congressional districts.

• Indiana has over 622,000 Black residents.

Florida: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Florida has convened legislative hearings to discuss the redistricting process.

• Currently, Florida’s leadership is at odds over when to formally begin a legislative session to propose new maps for the state. Florida’s governor and Senate leadership have indicated that they would like to hold a special legislative session in April 2026 to redraw districts. But Florida’s House leadership prefers to consider any new maps during the regular legislative session in January.

• The Florida Constitution explicitly prohibits lawmakers from redrawing maps with expressly partisan aims.

• Florida’s current map has 28 congressional districts

• Over 1.7 million Black voters reside in Florida.

Utah: NEW MAP ENACTED BY JUDGE

• Some Utah legislators have signaled they will appeal their recently rejected, gerrymandered map to the Utah Supreme Court.

• A Utah state district court judge rejected the map passed earlier this year by the state legislature as unconstitutional, and instead implemented the map offered by the plaintiffs who challenged the legislature’s original gerrymandered map.

• The Utah legislature has asked for a stay of the ruling. However, Utah’s lieutenant governor has announced that she will start the process to establish the map’s boundaries for the 2026 election.

• Utah began its redistricting process after a state district court judge ruled Utah’s old map unconstitutional in August and ordered the legislature to redraw the electoral districts. The former congressional map that the judge struck down cracked Salt Lake City into four districts.

• Utah’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Utah has over 72,000 Black residents.

Maryland: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• The Maryland Redistricting Commission is now soliciting map proposals from the public and will hold two additional public hearings to gather feedback.

• The Maryland legislature began a special session on Dec. 15, but legislators say they will not take up redistricting just yet. A recent poll by the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County revealed that 81% of Marylanders polled are not in favor of redistricting for partisan gain.

• Maryland’s governor recently launched a redistricting commission that will draft potential congressional maps for lawmakers to consider. The commission will organize public hearings, obtain public comments, and present its recommended map to the governor and the general assembly.

• The redistricting commission held its most recent hearing on Dec. 12. You can view all of the public meetings here.

• A showdown over redistricting began in October between the governor and leadership in the Maryland Senate. The Senate’s president issued a recent letter opposing any current plan to redistrict the state’s electoral map.

• Maryland’s current map has eight congressional districts.

• Black voters make up 33% of all eligible voters in Maryland.

KEEP AN EYE ON:

• In WISCONSIN, two redistricting lawsuits are currently playing out in court that could affect the state's congressional map. Both cases are before three-judge panels. While it’s likely that these cases will go to trial in 2026, there's doubt about whether rulings will be issued and enacted in time for the 2026 midterms.

• In NEW YORK, a lawsuit was recently filed challenging the state’s congressional map, saying that it dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino voters.

• In SOUTH CAROLINA, a state legislator recently published a draft congressional map that appears to target a historically Black district. The legislator announced that he plans to introduce legislation to begin the redistricting process in January.

• In COLORADO, state officials and, most recently, a sitting U.S. Senator, have increasingly spoken out about the possibility of redistricting. While it’s unlikely the legislature will redraw map lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, elected officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of putting a redrawn map before voters on the ballot in 2026, which would allow the map to go into effect for the 2028 elections if approved.

Previous Updates

All states featured here are those that have had redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch, published on Nov. 26. For information from previous issues, please check out Redistricting Watch 1.0, Redistricting Watch 2.0, Redistricting Watch 3.0, and Redistricting Watch 4.0.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to leaping into an explicit redistricting effort. States like Nebraska, Illinois, and New Hampshire are reportedly still weighing their options. Legislators are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures at the start of the next legislative session.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the normal redistricting cycle.

Missed our last issue? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is the process by which state legislatures or redistricting bodies redraw the boundaries of electoral districts. These districts are the geographical areas from which political representatives are elected at the local, regional, state, and federal levels of government. The residents of each electoral district vote for who will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, county commissions, city councils, school boards, and more.

Redistricting typically coincides with the release of U.S. census results, which normally happens every 10 years. But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade, an unusual occurrence. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about this is that lawmakers are using off-cycle redistricting to double down on racial discrimination. And with some of these and other congressional maps, legislators are using the pretext of partisanship to harm Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids.

Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Drawing voting maps in statehouses might seem abstract or worlds away from your daily life. But the district you vote in can affect every part of your life. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, more accessible health care, and so much more.

LDF is closely tracking state updates as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways.

State Updates Since Nov. 7

Texas: NEW MAP BLOCKED BY FEDERAL COURT, AWAITING FINAL SUPREME COURT DECISION

• Last week, a federal court blocked Texas’ redrawn 2025 map from going into effect, determining that Texas engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, thereby harming Black and Latino voters.

• LDF had previously filed an amicus brief in the legal challenge to the map, seeking this very outcome and arguing that the court should block Texas’ newly enacted, racially discriminatory map from taking effect before the 2026 elections.

• Texas has appealed this ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alito issued an administrative stay on the lower court’s decision, leaving the 2025 map in place for now. The full Supreme Court will soon issue a ruling on the legality of Texas’ congressional map.

• The Texas Legislature originally passed the 2025 congressional map that further weakened electoral opportunities for Black and Latino Texans back in August. The map’s planned effective date was Dec. 4.

• LDF staff who attended the redistricting hearings held by the legislature when the map was being developed reported that the majority of public testimony opposed any off-cycle congressional redistricting under the current circumstances. Public testimony also cautioned that the maps proposed by the legislature would harm Black Texans and other people of color.

• The 2025 congressional map aims to flip five of the 38 congressional districts in Texas.

• Texas is home to the largest number of eligible Black voters in the country.

Indiana: NEW MAP ON HOLD

• The Indiana State Senate will no longer meet in December to vote on redistricting. State leaders cited a lack of support in the chamber as the reason behind the sudden halt of the redistricting process.

• Lawmakers will convene as usual in January, but with the candidate filing deadline for the 2026 midterms in Indiana set for early February, it may be too late to consider a new map for 2026.

• State lawmakers were supposed to convene to consider the redistricting process from Dec. 1-12 after Indiana’s governor officially called for a special legislative session to begin in order to propose a new congressional map.

• Republicans in Indiana have expressed their desire to flip two congressional districts, but some party members have indicated that they don’t believe they have the votes in the statehouse to see this effort through.

• A recent survey from Change Research says that 52% of Hoosiers do not support any effort to change Indiana’s electoral map.

• Indiana lawmakers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with federal officials about off-cycle redistricting.

• Indiana’s current map has nine congressional districts.

• Indiana has over 622,000 Black residents.

Utah: NEW MAP ENACTED BY JUDGE

• The Utah state district court judge rejected the map passed earlier this month by the state legislature as unconstitutional and instead implemented the map offered by the plaintiffs who challenged the legislature’s original gerrymandered map.

• The Utah legislature has asked for a stay of the ruling. However, Utah’s lieutenant governor has announced that she will start the process to establish the map’s boundaries for the 2026 election.

• Utah began its redistricting process after a state district court judge ruled Utah’s old map unconstitutional in August and ordered the legislature to redraw the electoral districts. The former congressional map that the judge struck down cracked Salt Lake City into four districts.

• Utah’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Utah has over 72,000 Black residents.

Maryland: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Maryland’s governor recently launched a redistricting commission that will draft potential congressional maps for lawmakers to consider. The commission will organize public hearings, obtain public comments, and present its recommended map to the governor and the general assembly.

• The redistricting commission held its first public hearing on Nov. 18. Its next hearing will begin on Dec. 5 and will be available online.

• A showdown over redistricting began between the governor and leadership in the Maryland Senate. The Senate president issued a recent letter opposing any current plan to redistrict the state’s electoral map.

• Maryland’s current map has eight congressional districts.

• Black voters make up 33% of all eligible voters in Maryland.

KEEP AN EYE ON:

• In NEW YORK, a lawsuit was recently filed challenging the state’s congressional map, saying that it dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino voters.

• In SOUTH CAROLINA, a state legislator recently published a draft congressional map that appears to target a historically Black district. The legislator announced that he plans to introduce legislation to begin the redistricting process in January.

• In COLORADO, state officials have increasingly spoken out about the possibility of redistricting. While it’s unlikely the legislature will redraw map lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, elected officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of putting a redrawn map before voters on the ballot in 2026, which would allow the map to go into effect for the 2028 elections if approved.

Previous Updates

All states featured here are those that have had redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch published on Nov. 7. For information from previous issues, please check out Redistricting Watch 1.0, Redistricting Watch 2.0, and Redistricting Watch 3.0.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to leaping into an explicit redistricting effort. States like Nebraska, Illinois, and New Hampshire are reportedly still weighing their options. Legislators are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures at the start of the next legislative session.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the typically permitted redistricting cycle.

Missed our last issue? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is a process in which state legislatures or redistricting bodies redraw the lines that make up electoral districts. These districts are the geographical areas from which political representatives are elected at the local, regional, state, and federal levels of government. The residents of each electoral district vote for who will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, county commissions, city councils, school boards, and more.

According to the U.S. Constitution, all electoral districts must contain approximately the same number of people. Redistricting requires an accurate count of the people living in each district. Therefore, it coincides with the release of U.S. census results, which normally happens every 10 years.

But, right now, some state legislatures are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade, a rare and unusual occurrence without court intervention. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about what’s occurring right now is that lawmakers are using off-cycle redistricting to double down on racial discrimination. In some states, new congressional maps have been enacted to further diminish electoral opportunities for Black voters and other voters of color. With some of these and other congressional maps, legislators are using the pretext of partisanship to harm Black voters and other voters of color, which the Constitution forbids.

Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Since our last issue, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court to reargue a redistricting case, Louisiana v. Callais. Opposing counsel in this case are attempting to invalidate Louisiana’s current congressional map, which provides a long-overdue voice and fair representation to Black voters in Louisiana with a second electoral district where they have the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice to Congress.

Drawing voting maps in state houses might seem abstract or worlds away from your daily life. But the district you vote in can affect every part of your life. Fair maps mean having a say in lower prices at the store, better schools, safer streets, more accessible health care, and so much more.

When off-cycle redistricting comes for fair maps, it’s coming for your voice.

LDF is closely tracking state updates as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways.

State Updates Since Oct. 14

California: NEW MAP ENACTED

• California voters approved a new congressional map, known as Proposition 50 (or Prop 50), in a special election. The map was put before voters by the state legislature.

• Putting the proposed map in the hands of California voters is a rare move. In doing so, lawmakers circumvented the state’s independent redistricting commission, which drew California’s previous congressional map in 2021.

• The Prop 50 map will be in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.

• The map aims to flip five congressional districts among the 52 in California.

• California has over two million eligible Black voters.

North Carolina: NEW MAP ENACTED

• North Carolina state legislative leaders enacted a new congressional map that intentionally diminishes Black voting power. This will be North Carolina’s fifth congressional map in four years, and the governor does not have the power to veto the map.

• 84% of all voters in North Carolina currently oppose redistricting efforts for partisan advantage.

• The map is currently facing challenges in court, with a hearing set for later this month.

• North Carolina’s current map has 14 congressional districts.

• North Carolina has over 1.7 million eligible Black voters, and two of its congressional districts have historically provided Black North Carolinians an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Ohio: NEW MAP ENACTED

• The bipartisan Ohio Redistricting Commission has approved a map that will take effect in the 2026 midterm elections, following the Ohio General Assembly’s failure to meet its deadline to gain approval from both chambers on a proposed redistricting map. This map will be the one Ohio must use until the next redistricting cycle.

• The Ohio Redistricting Commission is made up of the governor, the auditor of state, the secretary of state, and individual lawmakers appointed by the House speaker, Senate president, Senate minority leader, and House minority leader.

• Ohio’s previous congressional map, drawn in 2021, was ruled an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022, but the legislature dragged its feet on redrawing a map. Therefore, the illegal map has been used in the past two congressional elections.

• Ohio’s current map has 15 congressional districts. Various legislators have declared that they aim to flip two of the districts.

• Ohio has over one million eligible Black voters.

Virginia: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• The Virginia state legislature has approved an amendment that could lead to redistricting next year, but the process is expected to take several months. The legislature must pass another amendment during its next session after this year’s Nov. 4 general election.

• If the legislature passes the amendment in two consecutive general assemblies, it can bypass the redistricting commission and submit the map to voters in a special election in 2026.

• The redistricting commission was approved by Virginia voters in 2020 with 65% of the vote.

• Lawmakers have expressed interest in flipping two to three of the state’s districts.

• Virginia’s current map has 11 congressional districts.

• Virginia has over 1.75 million Black residents.

Indiana: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• State lawmakers will convene to consider the redistricting process from Dec. 1-12 after Indiana’s governor officially called for a special legislative session to begin in order to propose a new congressional map.

• Republicans in Indiana have expressed their desire to flip two congressional districts, but certain party members have indicated that they don’t believe they have the votes in the statehouse to see this effort through.

• A recent survey says that 52% of Hoosiers do not support any effort to change Indiana’s electoral map.

• Indiana lawmakers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with federal officials about off-cycle redistricting.

• Indiana’s current map has nine congressional districts.

• Indiana has over 622,000 Black residents.

Kansas: NEW MAP ON HOLD

• Kansas legislators recently collected enough signatures to initiate a special legislative session. However, on election night, Kansas legislators announced that they would not be holding a special session to pursue any redistricting efforts.

• Kansas public officials have indicated that they may start the redistricting process during their annual legislative session, which begins on Jan. 12, 2026.

• Insiders in the state have expressed that they don’t believe there is currently enough support to pass a redrawn map.

• The state legislature has only ever successfully forced a special session once before, in 2021.

• Kansas’ current map has four congressional districts.

• Kansas has over 226,000 Black residents.

Utah: NEW MAP PASSED; signatures being gathered for a repeal

• The Utah State Legislature recently passed a map that will be sent to the state district court judge who previously ordered the legislature to redraw the electoral districts. The judge will decide if the new map will be in place for the November 2026 midterm elections.

• The former congressional map that the judge struck down cracked Salt Lake City into four districts. The new map only separates Salt Lake City residents into two districts.

• In a new twist, some Utah legislators are working to gather enough signatures to force a lawmaker vote on repealing the law that allowed the judge to strike down the prior map. The group would need over 70,000 signatures by Nov. 15.

• Another group in Utah is working to gather the signatures necessary to put the map (should the judge approve it) before the public. This group needs nearly 150,000 signatures by Nov. 15 in order to put the new map before voters in a special election.

• Utah’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Utah has over 72,000 Black residents.

KEEP AN EYE ON

• In NEW YORK, a lawsuit was recently filed challenging the state’s congressional map, saying that it dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino voters.

• In MARYLAND, a showdown is brewing between the governor and leadership in the Maryland Senate. The Senate president issued a recent letter opposing any current plan to redistrict the state’s electoral map, while the governor has now launched a redistricting commission that will draft potential congressional maps for lawmakers to consider. The commission will organize public hearings, obtain public comments, and present its recommended map to the governor and the general assembly.

Previous Updates

All states featured here are those that have had redistricting updates since our last issue of Redistricting Watch published on Oct. 14. For information from previous issues, please check out Redistricting Watch 1.0 and Redistricting Watch 2.0.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to leaping into an explicit redistricting effort. States like Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, New Hampshire, and South Carolina are reportedly weighing their options. Legislators are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures at the start of the next legislative session.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

Welcome back to Redistricting Watch, where we break down what exactly is happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the typically permitted redistricting cycle.

Missed our last issue? Here’s a quick catch-up.

Redistricting is a process where state legislatures or redistricting commissions redraw the lines that make up electoral districts. These districts are the geographical areas from which political representatives are elected at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. The residents of each electoral district vote for who will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, county commissions, city councils, school boards, and more.

According to the U.S. Constitution, all electoral districts in a given redistricting map must contain approximately the same number of people. But many other factors and criteria that also influence how district lines are drawn. For example, districts must be drawn to comply with the central requirements of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and cannot dilute minority voting strength. Redistricting requires an accurate count of the people living in each district. Therefore, it coincides with the U.S. census and normally happens every 10 years.

But, right now, state legislatures are redrawing voting maps outside of the standard period. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it is not normal.

What’s troubling about what’s occurring right now is that lawmakers are using off-cycle redistricting as an opportunity to eke out as much political power as possible, often at the expense of Black voters and other voters of color.

Politicians should not be selecting voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Drawing voting maps in state houses might seem abstract or worlds away from your daily life. But electoral maps can hide mechanisms to silence Black voters, and the district you vote in can affect every part of your life. Fair legislative maps mean you have an opportunity to make positive changes in areas that impact you every day. Fair maps mean having a voice on lower prices, better schools, safer streets, more accessible health care, fresher food, and so much more.

When off-cycle redistricting comes for fair maps, it’s coming for your voice.

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is closely tracking state updates as legislatures draw, defend, and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in countless ways.

As you’ll see in the lineup below, some state legislatures have continued to move toward adopting new maps, while others have stalled. Read below to see significant map updates in states like Missouri, Ohio, and Utah, and overviews of activities in states that have newly entered the fray, including North Carolina, Kansas, and Louisiana. And, after that, in case you missed our last issue, we’ve included updates featured in the first issue of Redistricting Watch.

State Updates

Missouri: NEW MAP PASSED

• Two weeks ago, the Missouri General Assembly enacted a congressional map that targets a district where Black voters have typically had the ability to elect a candidate of their choice.

• Missouri’s attorney general (AG) rejected a referendum petition that sought to put the new map up for a vote in a general election. However, after the AG cited the wrong part of the state constitution, voting rights groups said they will move forward with collecting signatures for the petition while legal challenges unfold. If they are allowed to continue, the coalition has until Dec. 11 to collect 107,000 signatures to halt the map from going into effect and place it on the ballot for voters’ consideration in November 2026.

• The legislature conducted an unprecedented off-cycle redistricting effort through an opaque legislative process. This often happened during technical sessions without the quorum typically required to move a bill forward, denying the public meaningful opportunities to participate in the process.

• The passed map aims to flip one congressional district amid the eight in Missouri.

• Missouri has over 500,000 Black voters.

Utah: NEW MAP PASSED

• The Utah State Legislature passed a map that will be sent to the state district court judge who initially ordered the redistricting. The judge will decide if the new map will be in place for the midterm elections.

• Utah’s legislature is under court orders to conduct a redistricting process after a ruling found that it illegally repealed and replaced an independent state redistricting commission.

• The former congressional map, which was struck down, cracked Salt Lake City into four districts. The new map only separates Salt Lake City residents into two districts.

• Utah’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Utah has over 72,000 Black residents.

Ohio: NEW MAP FAILED / NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• The Ohio General Assembly failed to meet its deadline to gain approval from both chambers on a proposed redistricting map.

• The Ohio Redistricting Commission will now have until the end of October to pass a bipartisan map. The commission is made up of the governor, the auditor of state, the secretary of state, and individual lawmakers appointed by the House speaker, Senate president, Senate minority leader, and House minority leader.

• If the Commission fails to pass a map, Ohio’s legislature can then pass a map with a simple majority vote, with a deadline of Nov. 30.

• Ohio’s previous congressional map, drawn in 2021, was ruled an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022, but the legislature dragged its feet on redrawing a map. Therefore, the illegal map has been used in the past two congressional elections.

• The legislature must redraw the map by the end of the year, as a map must be in place ahead of the 2026 primary elections.

• Ohio’s current map has 15 congressional districts. Various legislators have declared they aim to flip two of the districts.

• Ohio has over one million eligible Black voters.

North Carolina: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• North Carolina state legislative leaders announced that they will be moving forward with plans to redraw the state’s congressional map. Legislators anticipate meeting next week to propose a new map.

• In North Carolina, the General Assembly doesn’t need permission to commence redistricting efforts, but it hasn’t done so before, absent a court order. Additionally, the governor does not have veto power over passed maps.

• 84% of all voters in North Carolina currently oppose redistricting efforts for partisan advantage.

• North Carolina’s current map has 14 congressional districts.

• North Carolina has over 1.7 million eligible Black voters, and two of its congressional districts have historically provided Black North Carolinians an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

Kansas: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Kansas legislators have begun circulating petitions to initiate a special legislative session. Legislators would need two-thirds support in both houses of the legislature to activate the special session without the governor’s approval.

• The state legislature has only ever successfully forced a special session once before, in 2021.

• Kansas’ current map has four congressional districts.

• Kansas has over 226,000 Black residents.

Louisiana: NEW MAP DELAYED

• The Louisiana State Legislature will convene on Oct. 23 for a special legislative session.

• Louisiana’s current map is being challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court, where oral argument will take place on Oct. 15. LDF will be presenting oral argument in the case on behalf of Black Louisiana voters.

• Initially, Louisiana’s governor indicated that he intended for the legislature to draw a new congressional map next week, even as the Supreme Court deliberates the case. But state legislators have seemingly abandoned that plan. Now, they have declared that they will likely wait for the Supreme Court ruling in the summer before moving ahead with new map designs.

• Louisiana’s current map has six congressional districts.

• Black Louisianians make up nearly 33% of the state’s adult population.

Previous Updates from Redistricting Watch 1.0

California: NEW MAP PROPOSED

• California’s legislature proposed a new map, which will go before voters in a November special election. The measure is referred to as Proposition 50, or Prop 50 for short.

• If voters approve of the map, it will remain in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 congressional elections.

• Putting the proposed map in the hands of California voters is a rare move. In doing so, lawmakers circumvented the state’s independent redistricting commission, which drew California’s previous congressional map in 2021.

• The map aims to flip five congressional districts among the 52 in California.

• California has over two million eligible Black voters.

Texas: NEW MAP ENACTED

• In August, the Texas State Legislature passed a new congressional map that further weakens electoral opportunities for Black and Latino Texans. This map will go into effect on Dec. 4.

• LDF staff who attended the redistricting hearings held by the Legislature reported that the majority of public testimony opposed any off-cycle congressional redistricting under the current circumstances. It also cautioned that the maps proposed by the Legislature would harm Black Texans and other people of color.

• Republican legislators, who make up the majority in the statehouse, utilized a procedural move to block a Democratic senator’s plans to filibuster the bill, forcing the map to a vote.

• The new congressional map aims to flip five congressional districts among the 38 within Texas.

• Texas is home to the largest number of eligible Black voters in the country.

• The Texas map faces numerous legal challenges, including a lawsuit, League of United Latin American Citizens, et al., v. State of Texas, et al. LDF has filed an amicus brief in this case, arguing that the court should block Texas’ newly enacted and racially discriminatory map from going into effect before the 2026 elections.

Florida: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Florida’s speaker of the House is planning for the newly formed Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting to meet in October. There has been no movement on redistricting on the Senate side of the statehouse.

• In a recent poll, a majority of Floridians are against the state making efforts to redraw maps and conduct off-cycle redistricting.

• This year, Florida’s Supreme Court upheld a 2022 map drafted by Governor Ron DeSantis, despite evidence that the map weakens Black electoral opportunities and power in the state.

• Florida’s current map has 28 congressional districts.

• Florida has over 2.6 million Black eligible voters.

Indiana: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Indiana’s governor suggested that the state should move forward with a special legislative session on redistricting in response to calls for redistricting across the nation.

• Indiana lawmakers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with federal officials about off-cycle redistricting.

• Indiana’s current map has nine congressional districts.

• Indiana has over 622,000 Black residents.

On the Horizon

LDF will continue to track updates as other states inch closer to leaping into an explicit redistricting effort. States like Maryland, Nebraska, Maine, Illinois, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and New York are reportedly weighing their options. Legislators are discussing holding special legislative sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps or proposing redistricting measures at the start of the next legislative session.

Follow along in the next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens. In the meantime, for more information about redistricting, please visit LDF’s Redistricting page.

DRAWING THE LINES: Welcome to the first issue of Redistricting Watch. Here, we’ll break down exactly what’s happening inside statehouses across the country as state legislators redraw electoral districts and work to consolidate power outside of the typical redistricting cycle.

But let’s start from the top.

What exactly is redistricting? Redistricting is a process in which, after the census is conducted at the start of every decade, state legislatures evaluate and redraw their state’s electoral maps, usually to account for changes in population and shifting demographics as people move out of state or consolidate in different urban areas.

These maps determine the districts to which residents are assigned when they vote on who will represent them in federal, state, and local government bodies. Redistricting determines the boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts, and local districts, like school boards, city councils, and county commissions. It also sometimes determines those for other statewide or sub-state bodies, such as state boards of education, utility commissions, and judicial districts.

However, state legislatures are currently redrawing congressional maps outside of the usual redistricting period. This is called off-cycle redistricting, and it’s not a typical process.

We are five years from the last census and five years away from the next one, yet nearly half of the country’s population is undergoing or could undergo off-cycle redistricting. Off-cycle redistricting isn’t inherently bad, but when it’s done, it must comply with the Voting Rights Act, the U.S. Constitution, and the respective state’s constitution in which the process is being conducted. Notably, off-cycle redistricting should not be undertaken for political gain. That’s true regardless of the state in which it’s happening.

What’s troubling about what’s occurring right now is that some lawmakers are using off-cycle redistricting as an opportunity to eke out as much political power as they can, often at the expense of Black voters and other voters of color.

Politicians shouldn’t select voters. Voters should choose politicians.

Electoral maps can hide mechanisms to silence Black voters and drastically impact Black voters’ opportunities to elect candidates of their choice — those who understand their experiences and who will prioritize policies that communities desire.

Moreover, the district you vote in can affect every part of your life. And fair legislative maps mean you have an opportunity to make positive changes in areas that impact you every day. Fair maps mean having a voice in lower prices, better schools, safer streets, accessible health care, fresher food, and so much more. Fair maps mean a chance to make lasting changes for the better.

And when off-cycle redistricting comes for fair maps, it’s coming for your voice.

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is closely tracking state updates as legislatures draw and enact new maps that will affect Black communities in numerous ways. Follow below as we update you on key off-cycle redistricting developments state by state.

Texas: NEW MAP ENACTED

• In August, the Texas State Legislature passed a new congressional map that further weakens electoral opportunities for Black and Latino Texans. This map will go into effect on Dec. 4.

• LDF staff who attended the redistricting hearings held by the Legislature reported that the majority of public testimony opposed any off-cycle congressional redistricting under the current circumstances. It also cautioned that the maps proposed by the Legislature would harm Black Texans and other people of color.

• Republican legislators, who make up the majority in the statehouse, utilized a procedural move to block a Democratic senator’s plans to filibuster the bill, forcing the map to a vote.

• The new congressional map aims to flip five congressional districts among the 38 within Texas.

• Texas is home to the largest number of eligible Black voters in the country.

• The Texas map faces numerous legal challenges, including a lawsuit, League of United Latin American Citizens, et al., v. State of Texas, et al. LDF has filed an amicus brief in this case, arguing that the court should block Texas’ newly enacted and racially discriminatory map from going into effect before the 2026 elections.

Missouri: NEW MAP PASSED

• On Sept. 19, Missouri’s legislature passed a congressional map that targets a district where Black voters have typically been able to elect a candidate of their choice.

• The legislature conducted an unprecedented off-cycle redistricting effort through an opaque legislative process, often during technical sessions without the quorum typically required to move a bill forward. This approach denied the public meaningful opportunities to participate in the process.

• The new map aims to flip one congressional district among the eight in Missouri.

• The map may ultimately end up on next year’s ballot, with a group called People NOT Politicians Missouri filing a referendum with the Secretary of State’s office seeking to put the map before Missouri voters so they can determine if it should be enacted. The group has until Dec. 11 to collect 107,000 signatures to halt the map from going into effect and to leave it up to voters in November 2026.

• Missouri has over 500,000 Black voters.

California: NEW MAP PROPOSED

• California’s legislature proposed a new map, which will go before voters in a November special election. The measure is referred to as Proposition 50, or Prop 50 for short.

• If voters approve of the map, it will remain in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 congressional elections.

• Putting the proposed map in the hands of California voters is a rare move. In doing so, lawmakers circumvented the state’s independent redistricting commission, which drew California’s previous congressional map in 2021.

• The map aims to flip five congressional districts among the 52 in California.

• California has over two million eligible Black voters.

Ohio: NEW MAP PROPOSED

• Ohio’s previous congressional map, drawn in 2021, was ruled an unconstitutional gerrymander by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022. The legislature must redraw it by the end of the year, as a map must be in place ahead of the 2026 primary elections.

• The Ohio House of Representatives will be the first to propose new district lines. Then, the House and the Ohio State Senate must obtain a three-fifths approval in each legislative chamber to move the map forward. If that number cannot be mustered, the Ohio Redistricting Commission will get the chance to draw its own map. The commission is made up of the governor, the auditor of state, the secretary of state, and individual lawmakers appointed by the House speaker, Senate president, Senate minority leader, and House minority leader.

• Ohio Democrats have already introduced a proposed map, and the House is awaiting a proposed map from the Republican side. A panel of lawmakers met on Sept. 22 to discuss redistricting.

• Ohio’s current map has 15 congressional districts. Various legislators have declared they aim to flip two of the districts ahead of unveiling all possible maps.

• Ohio has over one million eligible Black voters.

Utah: NEW MAP FORTHCOMING

• The Supreme Court of Utah denied the Utah State Legislature’s request to keep its previous map in place for the upcoming elections, after a district court found that the map violated the state constitution.

• Utah’s legislature is under court orders to conduct a redistricting process. That process begins the week of Sept. 22 with public hearings and the introduction of newly proposed maps.

• Congressional maps advanced by the Legislature’s redistricting committee will be made available for a 10-day public comment period starting Sept. 25. The Legislature will then vote in a special session on Oct. 6 on any proposed maps, which then go back for district court approval.

• Utah’s current map has four congressional districts.

• Utah has over 72,000 Black residents.

Florida: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Florida’s speaker of the House is planning for the newly formed Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting to meet in October. There has been no movement on redistricting on the Senate side of the statehouse.

• In a recent poll, a majority of Floridians are against the state making efforts to redraw maps and conduct off-cycle redistricting.

• This year, Florida’s Supreme Court upheld a 2022 map drafted by Governor Ron DeSantis, despite evidence that the map weakens Black electoral opportunities and power in the state.

• Florida’s current map has 28 congressional districts.

• Florida has over 2.6 million Black eligible voters.

Indiana: NEW MAP POSSIBLE

• Indiana’s governor suggested that the state should move forward with a special legislative session on redistricting in response to calls for redistricting across the nation.

• Indiana lawmakers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with federal officials about off-cycle redistricting.

• Indiana’s current map has nine congressional districts.

• Indiana has over 622,000 Black residents.

ON THE HORIZON: Other states are considering leaping into the redistricting fray as well. States like Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska, Maine, Illinois, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and New York are all reportedly weighing their options as legislators discuss holding special sessions to determine the future of their congressional maps.

As states continue to use this time period to create, vote upon, and enact off-cycle redistricting maps, LDF will continue to track these developments. Follow along with us in our next issue of Redistricting Watch as we update you on redistricting as it happens.

For more information about redistricting, visit LDF’s Redistricting page.