October 28, 2025

When I sat down to write to you today, my law firm was litigating cases challenging congressional redistricting in eight states. By the time I finished, that number was nine. All the cases have one thing in common: Republicans are abusing their power in a cynical effort to rig maps for 2026.

Donald Trump’s obsession with holding power has made this situation much worse. From Texas to North Carolina to Missouri, Republican-led states have set aside their own previous gerrymandered maps in favor of more extreme maps that silence minority voters to win partisan advantage.

Indiana is the latest state to succumb to Trump’s pressure, with the governor calling a special session to redraw House maps. But it won’t be the last.

As Republicans attack democracy and entrench their power district-by-district, I have received lots of questions about how Democrats are fighting back. I started Democracy Docket in 2020 for precisely moments like this. To shine a light on the assault on voting rights and elections across the country. 

So let me be clear: Democrats are fighting the Republican gerrymandering power grab. In addition to challenging Republicans in court, political and legislative efforts are also underway.

Nov. 4 will be the first test. If you subscribe to Democracy Docket’s newsletters, and especially if you live in California, you know about Prop. 50 — a ballot initiative that redraws the map to provide up to five more Democratic seats in one of the bluest states in our country. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to put redistricting on the ballot will send an important message: the people voted for this, and the people are ready to fight dirty against Trump. 

In Virginia, Democrats in the legislature convened to start the process of redrawing the congressional map. The redraw could hand Democrats an additional three seats out of the state’s 11. While Republican lawmakers are protesting the effort, as in California, their criticism is just the latest example of shameless hypocrisy. 

As I mentioned, those of us who are committed to democracy are also suing. I started my law firm in 2021 to fight those battles head-on. I have devoted my life to ensuring every person has the right to fairly and freely vote for the candidates they believe in and the issues that matter to them. 

Yesterday, my law firm filed a lawsuit against the state of New York, arguing that the 2024 congressional map dilutes the voting power of Black and Latino residents. The district we’re asking to redraw, District 11, includes all of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, and is currently held by Republicans.

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, my law firm is also suing to reopen the state’s congressional map, which has been gerrymandered to benefit Republicans and discriminates against voters based on their political views.  

I wish I could say that these will be the last of the challenges and changes we will face for 2026. I would like nothing more than to assure you it will get better from here. But the truth is that Trump will continue to pull every lever he can to tilt the playing field in favor of Republicans next year. That means that Democrats will also need to continue to use their own tools to protect the midterms.

Some of these will involve litigation. Others will require civic participation and voter engagement. But the political will to redraw maps in states controlled by Democrats will continue to be one of the most powerful and essential components in the existential fight for free and fair elections in 2026. 

I like to think that Democracy Docket can play a role there as well. Every day, the 21-person team produces newsletters, news articles, thoughtful analysis and videos that provide a context for the attacks on our country and how we need to move forward. But Democracy Docket is also a community for those of us committed to this as the central challenge of our generation.

While the threats are real, I believe we will come out on the other side stronger and more united. Your support gives us the power and opportunity to stay in the fight. For that, I thank you.