Republicans are ramping up a coordinated redistricting campaign across several states, aiming to tilt the electoral map in their favor ahead of the next election. Following a mid-decade redistricting push in Texas — led by Gov. Greg Abbott at the urging of Donald Trump — GOP leaders are now moving to redraw congressional lines in Florida, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio to lock in control of the House.
Texas was the opening move. Republicans used a rare special legislative session to force through a new congressional map expected to hand the party as many as five new seats. That effort came after direct pressure from Trump, who has made redistricting a top priority in his bid to cement long-term GOP power.
Now, Trump allies want other red states to follow suit.
“There’s not much more Democrats can do at this point, which is kind of part and parcel of the Republican reason behind doing this,” said Missouri GOP strategist Gregg Keller. “The question is whether or not we are going to unilaterally disarm as a party in the face of what they have done.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to push for a new map after the state Supreme Court cleared the way. Republicans believe they can grab up to five seats, targeting Democrats like Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz.
“The overall takeaway is DeSantis wanted to do more back in the beginning of the redistricting here in 2020,” said GOP strategist Ford O’Connell. “Now, because of that court decision and the political reality at the moment, he’s going to be able to do what he thinks should have been done in the beginning.”
O’Connell said Trump is backing the effort and expects GOP lawmakers to fall in line.
In Missouri, Trump personally called Gov. Mike Kehoe to push for a new map. Republicans are now aiming to eliminate Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s (D) seat in the Kansas City area — which would leave just one Democratic representative in the entire state.
“Everything changed” when Trump got involved, said Keller. “Even moderate Republicans are largely going to fall in line.”
Republicans are expected to make their move during the upcoming veto session next month.
Indiana Republicans are facing mounting pressure from Trump’s orbit. While some lawmakers initially resisted the idea of redrawing maps mid-decade, the White House has made it clear: fall in line, or face consequences.
“You want the America First agenda to continue? This is the best way to make sure it happens. And oh yeah, this is legal and right,” one Trump ally told The Hill.
Charlie Kirk, a key Trump supporter and founder of Turning Point USA, took to X to threaten primary challenges:
“We will support primary opponents for Republicans in the Indiana State Legislature who refuse to support the team and redraw the maps.”
The message worked. Indiana state Rep. Craig Haggard (R), who had expressed doubts, reversed course and announced his support for redistricting days later.
Ohio’s redistricting was passed without a supermajority. But that’s just a technicality — Republicans are in full control of the process and expected to redraw lines that could oust Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Emilia Sykes.
“Every state matters when it comes to a House majority that’s this close,” said Ohio Republican strategist Mark Weaver.
Even small changes — one or two flipped seats — could decide who controls the House.
Democrats in California are trying to fight back. Gov. Gavin Newsom is backing a ballot measure to strip the state’s independent redistricting commission of its power and hand it to the Legislature. If it passes, Democrats could gain as many as five seats — a potential counter to GOP efforts in red states.
Still, the GOP sees an opening. With Trump applying pressure, Republicans are prioritizing flipping seats in any state where they control the process. In some cases, that means making safe GOP districts slightly more competitive in order to maximize total gains.
“If you’re in a red state, the red folks may have hand-wringing behind closed doors, but they’re not going to walk out there and say X, Y and Z,” one Republican insider said. “Everyone understands what the mission is.”
Even if it means making some current GOP seats slightly less safe, the party is focused on the bigger picture: stacking the map in their favor — legally, or not.
What started in Texas is now a national strategy — with Trump at the center. Behind closed doors, the Republican National Committee and the White House are working with state leaders to redraw maps, eliminate Democratic seats, and protect their grip on power.
“He’s just come out and made it pretty direct,” a source close to the White House said of Trump. This isn’t about the census. It’s about control. And the GOP is making its move now — before voters get another chance to shift the balance.
