Welcome to the Monday, August 4, Brew.
By: Briana Ryan
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Thirteen states could consider redrawing congressional boundaries before the 2026 midterms
- North Carolina Legislature overrides veto to pass REINS bill
- All candidates in at least five Washington elections happening Aug. 5 have completed our Candidate Connection survey
Thirteen states could consider redrawing congressional boundaries before the 2026 midterms
While states must redraw district boundaries through congressional redistricting after every 10-year census, at least 13 states must, are considering, or may be ordered by a court, to redraw boundaries before the 2026 midterm elections. In the July 23 Daily Brew, we covered storylines in California and Texas. Today, we’ll look at other states that are also considering redistricting.
As of July 30, Republicans have a 219-212 majority with four vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives. Three of those vacancies happened due to the deaths of three Democrats, and another happened due to the resignation of one Republican.
The Associated Press’ Meg Kinnard and Joey Cappelletti wrote that heading into the midterms, “Democrats see retaking the House as the party’s best chance to break Republicans’ hold on Congress and President Donald Trump is determined to keep the GOP’s majority.”
The U.S. Constitution requires the districts resulting from redistricting to have nearly equal populations and not cause racial or ethnic voting discrimination. The procedures vary by state.
- In 33 states, legislatures play the dominant role in redistricting.
- In nine states, commissions draw district lines.
- Two states use hybrid systems where the legislatures share redistricting authority with commissions.
Ohio is required to redraw its map heading into the midterms. In 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down the state’s enacted map and ordered the Ohio Legislature to redraw it. However, legislative leaders said they would not, meaning the Ohio Redistricting Commission assumed responsibility for redrawing it. The seven-member commission included two Republican and two Democratic state legislators. The state’s governor, secretary of state, and auditor—all Republicans—also served on the commission.
According to state law, since the commission approved a new map without bipartisan support, it could only stay in place for four years. Now, it’s up to the Republican-controlled Legislature to redraw the map.
Two Republican-led states—Georgia and Louisiana—have maps subject to change due to ongoing litigation. The legislature plays the dominant role in redistricting in both of those states.
- Georgia needed to redraw its map in 2023 due to litigation. However, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia upheld the map and the state used it in the 2024 elections. The plaintiffs appealed that approval to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, where it sits now.
- Louisiana enacted a new map in 2024 due to litigation. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana struck down the new map, but the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the ruling to prevent confusion in the 2024 elections, which used the challenged map. The appeal now sits with the U.S. Supreme Court, which scheduled the case for reargument in October 2025.
Nine states are considering a voluntary redraw of their maps. Texas is the only one that has taken official action on the matter so far. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) added redistricting to the state’s 30-day special legislative session agenda. On July 30, Texas Republicans released a proposed map that would create five more Republican-leaning districts.
Florida and Missouri are the other Republican-led states considering a voluntary redraw of their maps. Like Texas, the legislature plays the dominant role in redistricting in both states.
Democratic-led states that are also considering a voluntary redraw of their maps include: California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. The legislature plays the dominant role in redistricting in Illinois, Oregon, and Maryland. A court ruling or a special election would be necessary to pursue redistricting in the other states.
Click here to learn more about redistricting procedures.
North Carolina Legislature overrides veto to pass REINS bill
On July 29, the North Carolina General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s (D) veto of House Bill 402 (HB 402). The override enacted the bill, which shares features with the proposed federal-level REINS Act.
North Carolina has a divided government in which Democrats control the governorship while Republicans control both legislative chambers. On July 29, the North Carolina Senate voted 30-19 to override the veto with all Republicans supporting it and all Democrats opposing it. The North Carolina House of Representatives voted 73-47 to override the veto, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in support.
The state Senate originally passed the bill 26-17 on June 10, with all Republicans supporting it and all Democrats opposing it. On June 17, the state House passed it 70-44 with 67 Republicans and three Democrats voting in support.
Under HB 402, the Assembly must approve permanent rules expected to cost $20 million or more over a five-year period. The bill also adds requirements for boards and commissions to propose permanent rules. Two-thirds of commissioners must vote to approve a rule expected to cost $1 million or more over a five-year period. A unanimous vote is needed for rules costing $10 million or more. The bill included an exception to all these requirements for rules necessary to comply with federal requirements.
The override makes North Carolina the fifth state to enact a REINS-like bill in 2025 and the second to do so by veto override. The governors of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Utah—all Republicans—signed REINS bills into law earlier in the year. The Republican-controlled Kentucky Legislature overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto to enact a REINS bill on March 27. Nine states have passed REINS-like laws, beginning with Florida in 2010. Including HB 402, more than half of these bills were passed in 2025.
Click here for more information about HB 402.
All candidates in at least five Washington elections happening Aug. 5 have completed our Candidate Connection survey
All candidates running in at least five local elections happening in Washington on Aug. 5 completed our Candidate Connection Survey. Here are those elections, as well as links to all the candidates’ responses:
- Skagit Port Commission District 2 (special primary election)
- Renton City Council Position 2 (primary election)
- Mount Vernon City Council At-Large (primary election)
- District 5 of the Olympic School District (primary election)
- Mayor of Black Diamond (primary election)
These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. We ask all survey respondents to tell voters about their three key campaign messages. In Black Diamond, all three candidates listed managing growth as one of those key points. Excerpts of their responses are shown below:
Adler: “As our city grows, we need to make sure it happens with purpose — preserving Black Diamond’s small-town character while ensuring infrastructure, public safety, and community services keep pace.”
Bowie: “Schools needed to serve growth are not funded and the people’s reasonable request to have developers fund a larger portion of schools have been ignored. City Hall is shifting developer costs to tax and rate payers. Solutions require better planning and standing up to special interests.”
Boxx-Deady: “As Mayor I am dedicated to ensuring responsible growth and the provision of essential city services. The primary objectives include preparing Black Diamond for future challenges while preserving the community’s unique character.”
This year, we’re covering every election in Washington and 25 other states as part of our growing local election coverage.
Click here for more 2025 election coverage in Washington.