Hakeem Jeffries Says Democrats Will Counter Republican Redistricting Efforts Ahead of 2026 Midterms

During a recent press conference, House Minority Leader and Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

In 2025, Republicans moved to redraw the congressional maps in Texas and Florida in hopes of gaining additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. This redistricting battle intensified in the last year as Democrats argue it could unfairly influence the upcoming midterm election.

“The Republican efforts to redraw maps in Texas and Florida as part of their extreme scheme to rig the midterm elections have failed,” Rep. Jeffries said.

Rep. Jeffries added that “under no circumstances” would Republicans defeat Texas Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), two lawmakers in districts that Republicans redrew to make more favorable to the GOP.

According to recent polling, Rep. Cuellar leads his Republican opponent, Tano Tijerina, by 11 points, while Rep. Gonzalez leads his Republican opponent, Eric Flores, by three points.

“And under no circumstances in Texas are they going to win five seats,” Rep. Jeffries said. “They’d be fortunate if they get to three, and at this point, based on what’s happening in the Rio Grande Valley, that appears increasingly unlikely.”

In the Rio Grande Valley, Democrats have expressed optimism that Republican efforts to flip traditionally Democratic districts may fall short.

But Rep. Jeffries confirmed Democrats will pick up five seats to counteract the Republican-led map redrawings due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) redistricting plan in California, which was approved by voters in 2025.

“Democrats will pick up, thanks to Governor Newsom and members of the California delegation and the leaders throughout the state of California, we will pick up five seats to offset what Republicans intended to happen in both Texas and in Florida,” Rep. Jeffries said.