Your Election Update from RepublicanAds.com
State Party Affiliation Map by Wikimedia Commons
The 2020 census brought with it the commencement of nationwide, congressional redistricting, the implications of which will undoubtedly affect the midterm elections in November of 2022. A combination of COVID delays, party-divided issues, and lawsuits have delayed the process, causing some states to scramble in an effort to approve maps in time for primaries. The results of these newly-drawn maps will help direct the course of American politics for the next decade.
At article publication, the following states have approved their congressional maps. The states in bold are in litigation, brief details of which are highlighted below. Where applicable, the number of potential seats conservatives gained or lost in the redistricting process is indicated beside the state.
Alabama
The supreme court overruled a decision that threw out the map entirely due to claims that the new map was unfair to black voters. In the decision, they agreed to hear arguments about the new map, alleged violations, and potential constitutional violations related to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Alaska
Arizona (+1)
Arkansas
A federal lawsuit was filed by Pulaski County residents, claiming that the proposed congressional lines unfairly break up the county and dilute the black vote, violating the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. and Arkansas constitutions.
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
The likelihood of the new map, signed into law at the close of 2021, to hand the Republicans at least one seat has spawned multiple federal lawsuits. The lawsuits claim the new map dilutes the black vote, violating the Voter Rights Act, and/or the U.S. Constitution.
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
While the overall congressional makeup of the new map doesn’t change, the new map divides Wyandotte County, changing the partisan lean of the district. Two state lawsuits led by the ACLU, the Democratic party, and the Campaign Legal Center have been filed, claiming the new lines are illegal.
Kentucky
A lawsuit insinuating political gerrymandering has been filed by the Kentucky Democratic party due to the new divide that takes in Franklin County, making it lean more conservative than the old map.
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland (+1 highly competitive seat)
Massachusetts
Michigan
A lawsuit enacted by a group of voters’ rights advocacy groups is still pending, however the Supreme Court dismissed a recent lawsuit that claimed the new lines were unfair to black voters.
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
Republicans of the rural Nye County have filed a still-pending lawsuit claiming that the result of the new map, which splits the county into multiple districts, dilutes their voting power.
New Jersey (-1)
New Mexico (-1)
Led by the New Mexico Republican Party, a lawsuit was filed in January, claiming the new map dilutes the voting party of conservatives in the state. At article publication, the lawsuit was still pending.
New York (-3)
A Republican judge rejected the new map on March 31, citing gerrymandering and unconstitutionality. Not surprisingly, the Senate has announced they will appeal the ruling, giving the new map a high chance of survival.
North Carolina
After a panel of three judges rejected a map they felt held conservative bias, they approved a new map that will stand for the 2022 midterms. Due to this perceived overreach, Republican legislators in the state petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to look at the state’s redistricting process, stating an overstep by the state courts. The outcome of the case, which will not be heard in time to affect the 2022 election, could affect the 2024 election and have far-reaching consequences nationwide.
North Dakota
Ohio
The first map was struck down due a Republican skew that violated the party-fairness requirement and was replaced with a map that was similar in configuration. There is current litigation surrounding the map, and Ohio will redistrict again in 2025-2026.
Oklahoma
Oregon (-2)
Pennsylvania
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case filed by the Pennsylvania Republicans claiming unconstitutionality, punting it to a federal three-judge panel. The lawsuit is unlikely to be resolved prior to the 2022 midterms.
Rhode Island
South Carolina
The NAACP in South Carolina filed a lawsuit claiming the new map places black voters at a disadvantage. The case was postponed, and a new date has not yet been set.
South Dakota
Tennessee (+1)
Texas
A lawsuit was filed in Texas by the U.S. Department of Justice on the basis of a Voting Rights Act violation. The lawsuit alleges the purposeful dilution of the black vote and is one a group of suits filed containing this allegation.
Utah
A host of voting rights groups have filed a lawsuit in Utah over alleged gerrymandering. The suit pushes for further protection against gerrymandering issues in the future, claiming that the division of the Salt Lake Metro Area is a classic example of gerrymandering and needs to be curbed in later redistricting efforts.
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming
While most of the states seem to be moving forward, either in legislation or by already having rubber stamped the new congressional districts, some states are still in limbo due to partisan hard-liners and gerrymandering accusations. The following states do not have approved maps at time of article publication, with Florida perhaps having the largest implications nationwide come November:
Florida
Missouri
New Hampshire
We are keeping close tabs on the new congressional maps and will keep you updated as things progress.