The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Republicans in several Southern states are moving quickly to redraw congressional district maps before the 2026 midterm elections, capitalizing on a recent Supreme Court decision that weakened protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act. The redistricting push comes as President Donald Trump, facing negative approval ratings, has urged GOP-led states to redraw maps mid-decade in an effort to protect the party’s narrow House majority.
In the weeks following the ruling, new U.S. House district maps have been signed into law in Tennessee and Alabama, while Louisiana and South Carolina have each advanced redistricting plans through at least one legislative chamber. Mid-decade redistricting is unusual; congressional districts are typically redrawn only once a decade, following the national census.
The Supreme Court ruling weakened protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act, the AP reported. Trump, whose party historically loses seats in midterm elections, has publicly pressured Republican-led states to act this year rather than wait for the next census.
While the maps have cleared some legislative hurdles, court challenges and further legislative steps remain before they can take effect in the November elections. The remaining state legislative chambers must still approve the plans in Louisiana and South Carolina, and legal challenges are expected over whether the new maps comply with the Voting Rights Act as reinterpreted by the high court.