The two largest U.S. states have launched a congressional mid-decade redistricting war, and several other states are joining the fray ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which Democrats hope will mark the end of Republicans’ control of the federal government.

California’s redistricting measure, which Gov. Newsom signed into law last Thursday, is an “emergency defensive tactic,” says a former Santa Barbara County redistricting committee member.

California Democrats may have successfully muscled a new congressional map through the state legislature this week, but the redistricting fight in the Golden State is only just beginning.