As California and Texas scramble to redraw U.S. House maps before the 2026 midterm elections , the race is underlining redistricting’s big role in determining political power.

Texas took action after President Donald Trump directed Republican-controlled states to change where the district lines are drawn based on where the population is likely to vote Republican — a practice known as partisan gerrymandering. California Democrats on Thursday approved their redrawn congressional map in response.

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Midterm elections often go against the president’s party. Trump is trying to avoid a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when the GOP yielded control during his first presidency to a Democratic majority that stymied his agenda and tw

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