Top Democrats vowed to continue their aggressive redistricting campaign despite Republicans’ rejection of an Indiana remap pushed by President Donald Trump.
But the Hoosier State’s restraint is unlikely to galvanize blue states that were already hesitant to redraw.
As the redistricting wars stretch into 2026, Democrats are running out of places where they can easily respond to Republicans. The top remaining states are Virginia, Maryland and Illinois. Virginia is pressing ahead regardless of what happens elsewhere, although Democrats there must amend their state constitution via referendum first.
Legislative leaders in Maryland and Illinois, however, were closely watching Indiana as they considered their own potential redistricting.
“It was going to be a retaliatory measure,” Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) said, noting the urgency has lessened. “And more importantly, the people of Illinois didn’t want it.”
Contrast that with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ declaration on Friday that Democrats would continue to explore every available option.
“The reality of the situation is that Republicans may have started this redistricting battle, we as Democrats plan to finish it,” Jeffries said.
Illinois. The Democratic-dominated Illinois legislature was reluctant to redraw and resisted doing so when it was in session this fall. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said that his state could be more likely to redistrict if Indiana went first.
“We can’t rule it out,” said retiring Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.). “But I think it takes some of the pressure off. The fact that Republicans held firm in the [Indiana] Senate is a good sign and it shows, I think, the waning influence of Trump.”
Black lawmakers in Illinois, especially, have expressed concern about diluting majority-minority districts.
Democrats were hoping to draw out Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and net one seat in an already heavily gerrymandered map. To do this, Illinois Democrats would have to move the state’s primary, which is currently set for March, and reopen the filing period. That’s a heavy lift but it doesn’t require amending the constitution.
Maryland. There’s more appetite to redistrict in Maryland. Democratic Governor Wes Moore created a redistricting advisory commission, which has been holding hearings. But the big hold up is Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson.
Ferguson said in a statement opposing any redraw that he had spoken with his counterparts in other states. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) suggested in a recent podcast interview that Ferguson was referring to Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray.
“[Ferguson] said he had spoken to the Republican president of the Indiana Senate, who said he was going to stay out,” Raskin said. “Well, if he doesn’t stay out, that is going to redouble everybody’s determination to change Bill Ferguson’s mind.”
Ferguson has stood firm in the face of a barrage of criticism. But Democrats plan to make the case to him that Indiana is only one state. Republicans are attempting to redraw in others, including Florida.
“Trump’s not going to say, ‘OK, I hear the people of Indiana have spoken, so let’s back off.’” Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) said. “So I don’t know that it’s going to impact what’s happening in Maryland.”
