Redistricting War Ignites After Supreme Court Weakens Voting Rights Act

On May 4 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court’s *Louisiana v. Callais* opinion stripped Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, removing a key barrier to racial gerrymandering. Six days later former President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to use the ruling to redraw districts, creating a flurry of map proposals just months before the 2026 midterms. Candidates, lawmakers and voters now face uncertainty about where they will run and which district they belong to.

CNN

Florida’s legislature approved a map that could add four Republican seats; Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it on May 7. Tennessee’s Republicans unveiled a plan to split Democratic district, and Gov. Bill Lee discussed changes. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry postponed the May 16 primary to redraw districts, and Gov. Brian Kemp said Georgia will not redraw lines before the election. Eight states—Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Ohio and Utah—are redrawing maps.

CNN

CNN tracks five states with GOP maps targeting 13 Democratic seats, netting three Republican seats so far and possibly up to eight. Votebeat finds eight maps have efficiency gaps of 20 percentage points favoring the map-drawing party and cut competitive districts from 28 in 2024 to 13. Redistricting expert Jonathan Cervas estimates a net Democratic gain of about 2.7 seats.

Who is winning redistricting after Florida’s new congressional map and the Supreme Court’s Callais decision?

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the *Callais* ruling required Florida’s map to protect Republican representation. Gov. Jeff Landry said postponing the primary ensures compliance with Supreme Court decision. Gov. Bill Lee confirmed talks with Trump on Tennessee’s lines, and Gov. Brian Kemp noted Georgia will not redraw districts before election.

CNN

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen warned the maps add seats for Trump without regard for cities like Memphis. Rep. Shomari Figures called effort a “race to the bottom” and said Trump is “grasping for straws” to keep Republicans in power. Election-integrity advocate David Becker noted officials are working “hard…that’s not great,” but vote-counting system remains functional.

CNN

CNN projects a modest Republican net gain of three seats, potentially rising to eight, while Votebeat’s modeling suggests the new maps would net Democrats about 2.7 seats. No courts have yet ruled on legality of Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina or Virginia maps, leaving House composition uncertain.

CNN

State courts will review several newly adopted maps, and voting-rights groups have pledged litigation, especially in Florida. The *Callais* precedent will shape redistricting battles through 2026 midterms and likely set precedents for future election cycles.

Who is winning redistricting after Florida’s new congressional map and the Supreme Court’s Callais decision?

• “If they have to vote twice, so be it,” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social.” — Donald Trump, former President

CNN

• “They knew what they were doing,” — Steve Cohen, U.S. Representative

CNN

• “This is not how it should be,” — Shomari Figures, Democratic Representative (Alabama)

CNN

• “The fact that election officials out there are having to work so hard just to do their basic job, just to hold on to a functioning democracy, that’s not great,” — David Becker, founder, Center for Election Innovation and Research

CNN