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.
