Republicans eye more than 12-seat gain in redistricting push

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00:00Republicans are now hoping to gain at least a dozen seats in the 2026 midterm elections

00:05by redrawing congressional maps around the country.

00:08Here's a look at which states and congressional districts they're targeting.

00:14Texas has received the most attention because it's the furthest along in the process

00:18and could net the GOP five new seats. But Florida, Ohio, Missouri and Indiana are also important

00:24states to watch. The Florida Speaker of the House announced he's forming a special redistricting

00:29committee. Reports indicate Republicans will try to draw three new GOP seats in the Sunshine State.

00:35The Democrats they're targeting include Debbie Wasserman Schultz in District 25,

00:39Jared Muskowitz in District 23, and Darren Soto in District 9.

00:43Ohio's legislature is legally obligated to redraw their maps this year and they have to be done by

00:49November 30th. Ohio Republicans approved the current map in 2021 without Democratic support,

00:55so it was only allowed to be in place for four years. State law requires the legislature to go

01:00back to the drawing board and come up with a map that can get three-fifths support from both chambers

01:06and one half of the Democratic minority. If they can't agree, a commission gets involved,

01:12and if the commission can't make a deal, it goes back to the legislature where ultimately,

01:17Republicans could approve a new map without Democrats again. Ohio Republicans will try to target Marcy

01:23Captor in District 9, Amelia Sykes in District 13, and possibly Greg Landsman in District 1.

01:29Missouri and Indiana could both get one new Republican district.

01:34If Republicans succeed in each of these states, they would have 12 or 13 new districts.

01:40Texas Republicans say the new maps reflect political changes that were seen across the country in 2024.

01:46An overwhelming number of Hispanics and Blacks, as well as others, chose to vote for Trump.

01:53Four of the five districts that we're going to create are predominantly Hispanic districts.

01:58They're going to happen to be voting for Republican as opposed to Democrats.

02:01Democrats say it's anti-democratic and an illegal power grab.

02:05Democrats say it's anti-democratic and an illegal power grab.

02:13Pritzker also addressed criticism that maps in Illinois are significantly

02:17gerrymandered in favor of Democrats. California Republican Congressman Kevin

02:21Kiley is introducing a bill that would ban mid-decade redistricting nationwide

02:26and nullify new maps drawn before the 2030 Census.

02:29Kiley's seat could be a target if California Democrats try to redraw their maps.

02:34I'm Ray Bogan for Straight Hour News. For more reporting, download the SAN app.