Democrats turn to state legislative races to catch up in the redistricting battle

2026 ElectionDemocrats turn to state legislative races to catch up in the redistricting battleWith limited options to respond to Republican gains for this year, Democrats are laying the groundwork for efforts to draw new maps ahead of the 2028 election.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Democrats are looking ahead to the next election cycle to respond to new Republican-drawn congressional maps in states like Tennessee.Madison Thorn / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 13, 2026, 2:50 PM EDTBy Adam EdelmanAfter a series of court rulings gave Republicans a decisive advantage in the national redistricting fight, Democrats’ options for a counterpunch before this year’s midterms are limited. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.So they are shifting their attention to battles for control of legislatures in key states this fall to help lay the groundwork for new congressional maps for the 2028 election cycle.A U.S. Supreme Court decision last month has paved the way for a raft of GOP-controlled states with majority-minority districts represented by Democrats to redraw their district lines, adding to the list of favorable new maps for Republicans that were enacted over the past year at President Donald Trump’s urging. And one of Democrats’ most robust responses was struck down in Virginia last week by the state Supreme Court. Given that Democrats have full control of fewer state governments than Republicans — and that in several of those states, commissions, not lawmakers, are in charge of drawing maps — the party faces a lack of alternatives and time to launch new redistricting efforts before November, when control of the narrowly divided House is at stake. But 2028 could bring a series of new opportunities for Democrats, particularly if they make significant inroads at the state level this year. Add NBC News to Google‘No remedy for Democrats’ after Virginia Supreme Court’s...