The Redistricting Coup is Underway

The Crisis

We’re not watching politics. We’re watching a power grab.

In the span of a week, Donald Trump and the Republican Party have launched a multi-state campaign to rig congressional maps, erase voters from the census, and weaponize law enforcement against elected officials — all in service of one goal: permanent GOP control of the House.

This isn’t theory. It’s not a warning about what might happen. It’s happening right now — in Texas, in DC, in Indiana, and in every room where power can be manipulated and lines can be redrawn.

Cementing minority rule doesn’t always look like tanks and mobs. Sometimes it looks just like this: illegal censuses, rigged maps,, and corrupted institutions.

Step 1: Texas Republicans Move to Redraw Maps (Again)

Redistricting is supposed to happen once per decade, based on the census. But Donald Trump has been openly demanding Republican-controlled states redraw their maps mid-decade — before 2026 — to tilt the balance of power even further.

In Texas, Republicans listened.

Just days ago, Texas House Republicans advanced a new congressional map that would wipe out up to five Democratic-held seats. How? By surgically cracking apart communities of color and jamming Democratic voters into a handful of districts, leaving the rest safely Republican.

It’s a blatant racial and partisan gerrymander. And it’s part of a larger strategy to make the House unwinnable for Democrats — no matter how the public votes.

Step 2: Texas Democrats Fight Back the Only Way They Can—By Leaving

With the vote looming, over 50 Texas Democrats walked out and left the state, breaking quorum and halting the map in its tracks.

They fled to Illinois to deny Republicans the numbers they needed to move forward. That’s not stunt politics — that’s one of the last remaining tools legislators in the minority can use to stop authoritarian abuses of power.

Their move was legal. It was strategic. And it worked — at least temporarily.

But then Trump and his allies escalated.

Step 3: Senator John Cornyn Calls in the FBI to Track Them Down

In a stunning abuse of federal power, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced he had asked the FBI to help “locate” the missing Democratic lawmakers. Not because they broke a federal law — they didn’t. But because they’re in the way of Trump’s redistricting agenda.

And the FBI agreed.

Let’s be blunt: This is what authoritarianism looks like. When the party in power uses federal law enforcement to intimidate or track down elected officials from the opposing party — who are legally exercising their authority — that’s not democracy. That’s the stuff of strongmen.

No criminal charges. No federal crimes. Just raw political punishment dressed up as law enforcement cooperation.

It’s meant to scare them. It’s meant to send a message. And it’s meant to tell you what happens to people who resist Trump’s new regime.

Step 4: Trump Orders a New, Illegal Census to Erase People from the Count

As this unfolded, Trump announced another move straight out of the autocrat playbook: a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants.

That’s illegal. The courts already said so during his first term.

But legal precedent doesn’t matter to Trump — not anymore. His goal is to erase people from representation so they don’t count when congressional seats are allocated.

Here’s what it means:

• Communities with large immigrant populations (like California, New York, Texas, Illinois) would lose representation
• Whiter, more rural Republican states would gain seats
• Billions in federal resources would shift
• And the next redistricting cycle — and maybe even this one — would be based on deliberately rigged data

This isn’t about numbers. It’s about power. If they control who counts, they control everything that comes after.

Step 5: JD Vance Hits the Road to Expand the Map-Rigging Scheme

The same day Trump ordered the new census, Vice President JD Vance traveled to Indiana to pressure Republican leaders to redraw their maps too (shout out to the Indivisible groups in Indiana who worked together to respond to Vance’s visit).

Vance’s mission wasn't to hold a rally or inspire voters. His mission was to tighten the screws — to make sure red states fall in line with the national GOP redistricting blitz.

Indiana is just the start.

Other red states being targeted for mid-decade redistricting include: Missouri, Ohio, Florida, and Georgia.

All of these states have GOP trifectas at the state level. All have maps that could be redrawn to steal more seats. And all are now in Trump’s crosshairs.

Blue States Can (and Must) Fight Back

Trump’s redistricting coup only works if blue states sit back and do nothing. We can’t let that happen.

While Trump and MAGA Republicans try to redraw the map to guarantee themselves power, every Democratic-led state — whether it’s a full trifecta or a divided government — has a role to play in stopping this power grab cold.

Here’s who we’re talking about:

• 15 Democratic trifecta states — Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the legislature: California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, Maine, and Massachusetts.
• 5 Democratic governors in split or GOP-controlled legislatures — They don’t have full control of state government, but they have the bully pulpit and veto pen to lead the fight: Pennsylvania (Josh Shapiro), Wisconsin (Tony Evers), Arizona (Katie Hobbs), Kentucky (Andy Beshear), and North Carolina (Josh Stein).

Here’s how the asks break down depending on where you live.

Blue Trifectas with Redistricting Power: The First Line of Defense

The most direct way to counter MAGA’s mid-decade map-rigging is with responsive redistricting — redrawing maps in blue states if Republican states go first.

These states fall into four categories:

🔥 Immediate Priority: California, Illinois — These states absolutely can — and must — act. They have the power, the legal authority, and the political upside to implement responsive redistricting if red states gerrymander first. Doing so could flip multiple seats and blunt the impact of the MAGA coup.

📅 Long-term Priority: New York — New York has 26 congressional districts, and Republicans currently represent 7 of them. Many of these districts are already closely divided, making them top targets for responsive redistricting. However, due to NY’s state election laws, redistricting requires a multi-step process where the legislature puts an amendment to the state constitution on the ballot. This means in all likelihood, the soonest they could have new maps is in 2028. While that might be difficult, and doesn’t change the 2026 map, it would still send a powerful signal that Democrats in the powerful state of NY will not unilaterally disarm.

⚠️ Medium Impact: Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Maryland — These states can act — but the direct gains in seats would be small, and in some cases, the changes could imperil current Democratic seats. The goal here is less about the map math and more about the message: We want their leaders to fight, not flinch.

🤯 Complicated: New Jersey — New Jersey would have to amend its constitution to change its bipartisan redistricting commission — a process with strict public notice requirements that would require delaying the 2025 elections. They technically have the votes for the required 3/5 threshold, but there’s little to gain in terms of new seats (and they already strengthened two blue seats and made a Republican seat harder last cycle). The goal here is more rhetorical: they should be publicly threatening action, even if it’s unlikely to happen.

What We're Asking These States to Do

We are calling on the governors and legislatures in these states — California, Colorado, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, and Maryland — to prepare and publicly commit to a mid-decade redistricting plan if GOP states redraw their maps.

That means:

1. Public Commitments Now: Governors and state legislators must make it clear — right now — that if MAGA-led states redraw maps, they will respond in kind. That public signaling matters. It changes the risk calculation for red states.
2. Review and Reform State Redistricting Laws: In some states, the legislature already has the power to draw the maps. In others, they may need to override or amend commission processes. Now is the time to assess what’s possible — and prepare legislation to make it happen.
3. Cross-Chamber Coordination: Governors, state senators, and state representatives must work together — across both chambers and the governor’s office — to ensure readiness. That means legislation, legal groundwork, and political will.
4. Be Ready to Call Special Sessions: Waiting for the next regular session isn’t enough. If red states move fast, blue states must be able to respond just as fast.

To be clear: We are not calling for Democrats to gerrymander first. We are calling for Democrats to be ready to respond — boldly, quickly, and effectively — if Republicans launch a national campaign to rig the House map.

Because if we don’t? If we stand still while they redraw the country out from under us? There's a chance they win — before a single ballot is cast.

Solidarity Trifecta States and Other States with Democratic Governors

Some blue trifecta states already have fully Democratic U.S. House delegations: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. These blue trifectas don’t need to redraw maps — but their governors are still critical to the fight. They can project political power, create safe havens for targeted lawmakers, and raise the profile of the MAGA coup so it’s harder to ignore.

Similarly, in the five states with Democratic governors and split or GOP-controlled legislatures, responsive redistricting isn’t on the table. But how these governors show up in this moment is critical. And we need them to fight. Here’s how.

The Come and Take It Pledge for Every Democratic Governor

Whether you lead a redistricting-capable state, a solidarity trifecta, or a split-government state, every single Democratic governor must take the Come and Take It Pledge, a public commitment in solidarity with the Texas Democrats who walked out to stop the Trump coup and, in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s threat of arrest and expulsion, issued a one line press release that said, “Come and take it.” 

Specifically, we’re asking Democratic Governors for the following:

1. Open State Welcome — Issue a public statement telling red-state Democratic lawmakers targeted by GOP gerrymanders or harassment that your state is open to them, that you welcome them, and that you stand with their fight.
2. Non-Cooperation Commitment — Pledge that you will not cooperate in any way with partisan, politically motivated federal law enforcement efforts to target, harass, or detain lawmakers engaged in legal resistance to gerrymanders.
3. Demand DOJ Action — Join or issue a public statement urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the politicized use of the FBI or other federal agencies against lawmakers engaged in legal legislative action. We know Trump’s DOJ appointees won’t suddenly start playing fair — but this is about educating the public that the DOJ is acting as an arm of Trump’s political operation, targeting his opponents instead of protecting democratic norms.

When governors take the Come and Take It Pledge, they send a clear message: We will not bow to authoritarian overreach, and we will protect those who stand against it.

Why This Matters

Some of these states’ leaders are already signaling their plan to fight, from Governor Gavin Newsom promising that California will redraw its maps in response to Texas' gerrymander to Governors JB Pritzker and Kathy Hochul welcoming Texas Democrats to their states.

That’s the energy we need from every Democratic governor. Because Trump’s plan depends on blue states doing what Democrats are too often known for: playing fair while Republicans burn the rulebook.

We’ve seen this pattern before. Republicans gerrymander red states to hell, and Democrats in blue states hold back, clinging to norms the other side has already shredded.

Here’s the hard truth: Unilateral disarmament isn’t strategy — it’s surrender.

Red States are the Frontlines

If you live in a Republican-controlled state, you're already inside the map-rigging machine. This is where the coup starts. So Texas is the opening salvo — but it's not the last.

Here’s what’s happening in red states right now:

• In Texas, Republicans advanced a brutal mid-decade map designed to wipe out five Democratic seats. When Democrats walked out to block the vote, Trump’s allies called in the FBI to track them down.
• In Indiana, Vice President JD Vance is pressuring GOP leaders to redraw maps immediately to lock in more Republican seats.
• In Missouri and Ohio, Republican leaders are considering similar mid-cycle redistricting, following Trump’s directive to “pad the map” before 2026.
• In Florida and Georgia, MAGA operatives are laying the groundwork to revisit existing maps under the guise of “efficiency” or “compliance.”

This isn’t accidental. It’s strategic. Trump and his allies are using state-level power to redraw maps in their favor — long before voters ever get a say. And they’re doing it now because they’re scared.

Trump’s grip on the House is weak. He’s afraid of investigations, of resistance, of losing power. So he’s trying to make sure he can’t lose — no matter how the country votes.

What You Can Do in a Red State

Even in deep-red territory, you are not powerless. There are key ways you can fight back from inside the machine:

• Raise Hell Locally: Attend redistricting hearings. Flood your local news with letters to the editor. Call out what’s happening for what it is: an anti-democratic power grab. Name the names. Shine the spotlight. Make them sweat.

• Support the Lawmakers Resisting: If your Democratic legislators are taking bold action — like walking out, as Texas lawmakers did — back them up. They need public support, political cover, and media attention.

• Expose the Process: Demand transparency. MAGA maps are often drawn in secret. Force them into the light. Make sure every voter knows what’s at stake.

• Link Up With Allies in Blue States: The MAGA redistricting coup is national — so is the resistance. Help raise awareness across state lines. Tell your friends in blue states why they must take action where you can’t.

• Push Back on Federal Enforcement Abuse: If federal law enforcement is being weaponized to punish local lawmakers, that’s not just overreach — it’s authoritarianism. Sound the alarm.

This is not a political disagreement. It’s a multi-state scheme to dismantle democratic representation and install a permanent MAGA majority in the House — no matter how America votes.