House Minority Leader Accuses President Trump of Gerrymandering to Influence 2026 Midterms

Washington — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized President Trump on Sunday, alleging an attempt to manipulate the 2026 midterm elections through partisan redistricting, known as gerrymandering. While he emphasized the need for Democrats nationwide to respond to such efforts, he refrained from confirming whether New York Democrats have a specific plan to alter the state’s congressional boundaries.

“Democrats across the country will act swiftly and decisively, as seen in California, to prevent Trump from usurping the election process,” Jeffries stated in an interview. When pressed for details on New York’s possible actions, he declined to specify any plans, only indicating that responses would be appropriate to the circumstances.

Jeffries highlighted Republican efforts in Texas and Democratic responses in California, but did not detail what strategy New York might pursue. Meanwhile, lawmakers across parties are actively redrawing congressional maps to gain electoral advantages, with Texas and California seeing the most intense battles.

In Texas, Republicans recently approved a new map, backed by President Trump, that could overturn several House seats and give the GOP an edge in the upcoming midterms. Conversely, California Democrats, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, are proposing a new congressional map intended to offset GOP gains in Texas. The California plan, now awaiting voter approval in November, aims to secure five Democratic seats.

Other states, including Indiana, Missouri, Florida, New York, Illinois, and Maryland, are also considering redistricting efforts as the 2026 elections approach.

Despite Jeffries’ cautious stance, New York Governor Kathy Hochul urges Democrats to engage more actively in redistricting battles. She has expressed frustration over being sidelined and called for a proactive approach, criticizing the current political climate and emphasizing that the era of traditional redistricting is over, partly due to Trump’s influence.

In July, New York Democrats proposed a constitutional amendment to regulate how congressional maps are redrawn before 2028. The measure requires approval in 2026 and prohibits partisan gerrymandering, signaling an intent to reform the state’s redistricting process amid national debates.