Midterm results show Democrats holding most redistricted seats
After a two-year battle over maps, Democrats are projected to keep 12 of 15 seats that Republicans redrew, while California's new districts deliver five wins.
By Nour Haddad ·
As of Wednesday evening, the projection boards showed Democrats holding 12 of the 15 congressional districts that Republicans redrew over the past two years. The Republicans had targeted these specific seats in an effort to shift the balance of power before the midterms. They are currently projected to retain only two of those targets.
The conflict began when Texas Republicans adopted a plan to redraw congressional boundaries. President Donald Trump supported the move, pushing the GOP-controlled legislature to create districts more favorable to their party. California responded by launching its own redistricting effort. Voters approved Proposition 50, a ballot measure designed to flip five seats currently held by Republicans.
In California, the new maps appear to have delivered the intended results. Democrats are projected to win all five seats targeted by the initiative. Mike McGuire unseated Republican Representative James Gallagher in the first district. In the third district, Representative Ami Bera defeated Republican-aligned independent Kevin Kiley. Randy Villegas took the sixth district from Representative David Valadao. Linda Sánchez is projected to win the 41st district from Republican Ken Calvert. Marni von Wilpert is also projected to win the 48th district, replacing retiring Representative Darrell Issa.
Outside of California, Democrats secured victories in several other contested districts. Representative Shomari Figures is projected to hold the second district in Alabama. In Florida, Representative Kathy Castor is expected to keep her seat in the ninth district. Pia Dandiya is projected to win the 14th district, and Representative Jared Moskowitz is expected to win the 25th. In Ohio, Representative Greg Landsman is projected to win the first district, and Representative Marcy Kaptur is expected to hold the ninth.
Texas saw a mixed outcome for the redistricting effort. Democrats are projected to hold five seats in the state. Leticia Gutierrez is expected to win the open ninth district. Representatives Henry Cuellar, Vincente Gonzalez, and Jonny Garcia are all projected to keep their seats in the 28th, 34th, and 35th districts respectively. Republicans, however, are projected to flip two Texas seats. Jace Yarbrough is expected to win the 32nd district, which opened after Representative Julie Johnson left Congress. Brent Taylor is projected to win the ninth district in Tennessee, where Democratic state Representative Justin Pearson conceded the seat.
Three districts remain undecided as of the latest projections. The ninth and 22nd districts in Florida have not been called. The first district in North Carolina and the sixth district in Louisiana are also still unprojected. The outcome of these four races will determine the final tally of the redistricting battle.
The Utah first district added another Democratic win to the column. Former Representative Ben McAdams is projected to win in that redrawn district. The change in the map caused shuffling and retirements among Utah incumbents. The final count of projected wins stands at 12 for Democrats and 2 for Republicans in the contested seats.
