Midterm Results Show Limits of Trump-Backed Redistricting
New maps in Texas, Florida, and Alabama failed to flip key seats, as voter dissatisfaction with the economy and Iran war drove a Democratic surge.
By Kofi Costa ·
President Donald Trump pushed Republicans in eight states to redraw congressional boundaries last year. The strategy aimed to secure a House majority for the 2026 midterms. The plan failed to deliver that advantage.
The effort began in Texas, where the President urged lawmakers to reshape districts to gain five seats. A Supreme Court ruling later weakened Voting Rights Act protections, accelerating changes in the South. Republicans hoped to add seats in Florida, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Voters rejected the new maps in key states. In Texas, Democrats retained control of districts in the Rio Grande Valley despite Republican redistricting. Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez won reelection. Their Republican colleague, Monica De La Cruz, lost her seat. Her new district contained about 60% new voting-age residents, which complicated her campaign against Bobby Pulido.
Florida saw similar results. Democrats held three seats that Republicans had targeted. Rep. Jared Moskowitz won his race in Florida's 25th District. He noted that Republicans spent $26 million attacking him. Rep. Kathy Castor also won reelection in a district where two-thirds of residents were new. Pia Dandiya took an open seat in southern Florida that was redrawn for a GOP edge.
In Alabama, a new map failed to unseat Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. In North Carolina, a costly advertising war erupted over the 1st District. Spenders put more than $50 million into that single race. Don Davis held a slight lead Tuesday night, while Greg Murphy faced a close contest in the 3rd District.
Eric Holder, chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said the Republican plan was systematically dismantled. Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School, noted that line-drawers may have been overconfident. He pointed to AP Voter Poll data showing 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the presidency.
Maryland voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday. The change makes it easier for the state legislature to redraw districts. This move sets the stage for potential Democratic redistricting efforts ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
