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.

Calif., Texas at the top

Each decade, the Census Bureau collects population data that is used to divvy up the 435 U.S. House seats proportionally among the 50 states. States that grew relative to others might gain a House seat at the expense of states in which populations stagnated or declined.

Ca

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