Last year, Republicans looked to gain an advantage in the 2026 midterms with an unprecedented multi-state, mid-decade redistricting effort, starting in Texas. Democrats responded by redrawing the congressional lines in deep-blue California.
Ultimately, a slate of state legislatures redrew their district boundaries, and Republicans were perceived as having taken a slight advantage in the nationwide effort.
Here’s the state of midterm races in the districts that were redrawn.
Texas
Republican-led Texas has several races that have been affected by last year’s redistricting push.
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was drawn out of the state’s Ninth Congressional District and into the 18th Congressional District. He mounted an unsuccessful bid for the nomination, losing the Democratic Party runoff in May.
In the open race for the Ninth Congressional District, military mom Leticia Gutierrez, a Democrat, faces Army veteran Alex Mealer, a Republican.
The seat was redrawn to shore up Republican support, and Cook Political Report now rates the former heavily Democratic district as likely Republican.
In the 28th Congressional District, redrawn to favor Republicans, incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) is up against Republican candidate Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina.
Democratic Rep. Julie Johnson was drawn out of Texas’s 32nd Congressional District and lost her party’s primary in the 33rd Congressional District.
In the open race for the 32nd district, Air Force veteran and attorney Jace Yarbrough, a Republican, faces Richardson City Councilmember Dan Barrios, a Democrat.
Yarbrough is seen as overwhelmingly favored in the race, which is now rated solid Republican by Cook Political Report.
In the race for the 34th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) squares off against former Texas Army National Guard Infantry Captain and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Flores, a Republican.
Although the seat was redrawn to favor Republicans, Gonzalez leads by 7 percent in the only poll conducted since August. Cook Political Report rates the election as leaning Democratic.
In the 35th Congressional District, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) was drawn out of district and is instead running in the 37th Congressional District, where he’s favored to safely win reelection to Congress.
In the new 35th district, sheriff’s deputy Johnny Garcia, a Democrat, faces Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz, a Republican.
California
California was the next state to redraw its congressional borders after Texas, targeting seats held by Republicans.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom billed this move as a response to Texas.
In the First Congressional District, incumbent Rep. James Gallagher (R-Calif.) faces Democratic state Sen. Mike McGuire.
McGuire led by 3 points in a poll conducted in February, and the Cook Political Report rates the race as solidly Democratic.
In the Third Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Ami Bera competes against Republican businessman Robb Tucker.
Bera is favored to win the newly drawn district, which was shifted 14 points toward Democrats by the redistricting. Cook Political Report rates the seat as solidly Democratic.
In the 22nd Congressional District, incumbent Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) is up against educator Randy Villegas, a Democrat.
The seat was boosted for Democrats in 2025, but Valadao has worked to distance himself from Trump in the deeply swing-prone district. The race is currently rated as a toss-up by Cook Political Report.
In the now solidly Democratic 41st Congressional District, Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) is up against Republican small business owner Mitch Clemmons.
With Republican Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) not running for reelection in the 48th Congressional District, it’s an open race between San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Navy veteran Jim Desmond, a Republican.
Louisiana
Following the Supreme Court ruling striking down the Pelican State’s 2024 congressional map—which created a second majority-black congressional district in the Sixth Congressional District—the Republican-led Legislature redrew the state congressional map.
Now, the Sixth Congressional District is rated as safely Republican.
To find out what happened in other states’ redistricting efforts, take a look at the full report here.
—Joseph Lord; Jackson Richman
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