Redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterms is at the center of the political universe this week, and Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Indiana on Thursday is a big signal the White House isn’t backing off the strategy anytime soon.
Vance’s visit to a state to ask lawmakers to redistrict is a significant escalation from the White House, which was pressuring Texas Republicans behind closed doors to redraw the state’s congressional map.
Republicans could draw 10 or more new seats that advantage the party ahead of the midterms. Later this year, Ohio will be legally forced to remap the state, potentially giving Republicans up to three more seats there. And talks are underway in Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida.
Trump’s team is putting “maximum pressure on everywhere where redistricting is an option and it could provide a good return on investment,” according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking and granted anonymity to describe it.While Democratic efforts to counter Texas are well underway, including lawmakers who continue to deny Republicans in Austin quorum over a new congressional map that could net up to five seats for the GOP, the party’s options are far more limited.