The redistricting “arms race” has created a mess and we will have to see how it all plays out. However, I maintain that it all comes down to people power. 

New districts are being drawn based on the assumption that people will turn out to vote at the same levels they have in the past. In midterm elections, the turn out rate is usually very low, around 20%. 

These assumptions are a cautionary tale. For example, the 2025 Virginia Governor’s race went against historical voting patterns in terms of which districts voted Republican or Democrat. 

If people pay attention and turn out to vote, then people control who is elected to Congress – not how the districts are drawn. This is why having people and organizations on the ground doing the work will be crucial to countering whatever happens with mid-decade redistricting. 

Check out more of my discussion on this topic with civil rights attorney Angela Groves in this video.