Pressure on Republicans after California map vote gives Democrats critical win

"California voters overwhelmingly approved a redistricting referendum on Tuesday, a critical win for Democrats as they attempt to counter efforts by Donald Trump and allies to redraw congressional districts in their favor ahead of next year's midterm elections. Now, the focus will shift to other states, where Trump is pressuring Republican-led legislatures to redraw their districts. Democrats are racing to do the same in an all-out sprint to rejigger district lines ahead of next year's midterms."

"The new California map neuters that effort by adding the same number of Democratic seats. Republicans currently hold a razor-thin 219-214 majority in the US House. There is one Republican vacancy and one Democratic one. Republicans in North Carolina and Missouri have already passed new maps that would add one Republican congressional district apiece in each state. In Missouri, however, a citizen-led initiative could block the new map from going into effect in 2026."

"Democrats are poised to wipe out those gains by passing a new congressional map in Virginia, where they expanded their majority in the state legislature on Tuesday. That effort could add two to three more Democratic seats. After a court struck down Utah's congressional map for violating state constitutional provisions prohibiting partisan gerrymandering. Lawmakers put a new plan in place, which is still awaiting court approval, that added two competitive districts Democrats could win."

California voters approved a redistricting referendum that adds Democratic seats and counters Republican plans to redraw congressional districts ahead of next year's midterms. The measure was placed on the ballot after Texas Republicans passed a map that would add three to five Republican House seats; the new California map adds a comparable number of Democratic seats. Republicans hold a narrow 219-214 House majority with two vacancies. North Carolina and Missouri passed maps adding one Republican seat each, though Missouri faces a citizen initiative that could block its map. Democrats expanded their Virginia legislative majority and could gain two to three seats through a new map.

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