Democrats get a last-minute reprieve on 2026 redistricting

Republicans are slowing down a feared redistricting blitz across the Deep South, giving several longtime Black lawmakers a temporary reprieve.

Why it matters: Democrats had been grappling with the imminent collapse of Black political representation in the South after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act in late April.

• As many as 19 Congressional Black Caucus members could be affected in a maximized national redistricting scenario, Black Caucus chair Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) told NBC News on Tuesday.
• But Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana have stepped back from the most aggressive redraw plans that were floated after the ruling.

Zoom in: In Louisiana, Republicans opted to eliminate only one Black-majority district instead of both. Democratic Reps. Cleo Fields and Troy Carter will have to compete for the remaining seat.

• In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves canceled a special session scheduled for later this month. Reeves said Republicans will redraw the congressional districts ahead of the 2027 statewide elections to end the "reign of terror" of longtime Rep. Bennie Thompson (D), who replied by saying "deflection is real."
• In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday he was calling for a special session on maps — but for the 2028 cycle instead of 2026. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) was the most likely target for a last-minute redraw.

The big picture: Republicans appear to have won the 2026 redistricting wars after Virginia's Supreme Court blocked the state's new map.

• That, plus aggressive gerrymanders in Florida and Texas, more than canceled out the Democrats' big redraw in California.
• But a Democratic wave could result in a "dummymander" where Republicans in districts that have been diluted to draw more red seats are swept out of office.

The other side: Not every state is proceeding with caution.

• Alabama steamed ahead after the Supreme Court lifted an injunction blocking it from eliminating one Black-majority seat.
• South Carolina reversed course Wednesday, with news reports that the governor is expected to call a special session to draw out the district of Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Democratic kingmaker. They'd previously appeared set to wait until 2028.