A political battle of unprecedented intensity began this summer, as Democrats and Republicans scramble to secure a congressional majority ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. Traditionally unfavorable to the party in power, the midterms could swing the House of Representatives to the Democrats, who need to win only three seats to claim a majority. This would allow them to roll back laws passed since January, block Donald Trump's new legislative initiatives, launch congressional investigations and even open impeachment proceedings against him.

To prevent the Democrats from, according to him, wiping out all the progress that has been made, Trump has urged Republican state legislatures to redraw their congressional maps to maximize his party's chances. Democrats initially denounced the move, but soon decided to respond in kind by doing the same in states they control. Here is Le Monde's analysis of this so-called "redistricting war."

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