Trump push for new congressional maps meets resistance – from both parties

White House pressure campaign has not found willing participants in all states - including Republican-led ones

The unprecedented push to create new congressional districts mid-decade is hitting roadblocks in the form of local elected officials from both parties.

Republicans face headwinds in the 2026 midterms: the party in power often loses ground in the election after a presidential win, and Trump's agenda isn't going over well. The 2025 off-year elections showed voters favoring Democrats at higher-than-expected margins. Trump wants to keep the House in Republican control by redrawing congressional maps to create more Republican-friendly districts. He first pressured Texas, which responded by drawing five additional red districts, which led California to advance a now-approved ballot measure to create five more Democrat-friendly districts to offset Texas's maps.