First came Congress. Now a national redistricting battle may turn to statehouses and city councils
Summary
After recent changes to congressional district maps, some states like Georgia plan to redraw voting districts again for upcoming elections. This next phase may also affect local governments, including city councils and school boards. A recent Supreme Court ruling has allowed states to change districts that previously protected minority voters.Key Facts
- Georgia’s Republican-led Legislature will hold a special session starting June 17, 2026, to redraw election districts for Congress, state House, state Senate, and possibly the utility regulatory commission.
- This is the first time since a Supreme Court ruling that weakened minority voting protections that a state legislature will redraw its own districts.
- Mississippi Republicans and New York Democrats might also redraw legislative districts before their 2027 and 2028 elections.
- District boundaries are usually redrawn every 10 years after the U.S. census to reflect population changes.
- President Donald Trump encouraged Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts to gain more seats in the midterm elections.
- A 6-3 Supreme Court decision struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana as illegal racial gerrymandering, opening the door for changes in other states.
- In 2023, a federal judge ruled some Georgia districts were racially discriminatory; the legislature approved new maps with majority-Black districts but still favored Republicans.
- The outcome of redistricting will influence many issues such as tax rates, teacher pay, housing rules, and local infrastructure.
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