The probable answer is four, pending legislation.
Virginia Voters Approve Measure to Boost Democrats in Midterms
Trump started the latest gerrymandering wars with Texas. He is now worse off for it.
The Wall Street Journal reports Virginia Voters Narrowly Approve Measure to Boost Democrats in Midterms
Virginia voters narrowly approved a measure to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the midterms, the Associated Press projected, giving a big boost to Democrats’ efforts to reclaim control of the U.S. House.
With 97% of the vote counted, the Yes vote had 51.5% while the No vote had 48.5%. Voters in Democratic-leaning suburbs and exurbs outside Washington, D.C., heavily favored the measure, while voters in heavily Republican rural areas largely voted against it.
The Virginia delegation to the U.S. House is currently split almost evenly—six House Democrats to five Republicans—closely reflecting the blue lean of the state, which elected Democrat Abigail Spanberger as governor last year and sided with Kamala Harris over President Trump in 2024. Democrats pushed for new, temporary district lines intended to make the map 10-1 in their favor.
Backers have said the gerrymandering is needed to counter efforts by Trump and Republicans in Texas and other states to create more red seats in the closely divided House. Opponents have said the proposal undermines Virginia’s past efforts at fair representation. Virginia was following the lead of California, which voted overwhelmingly last year to redraw its lines to create several more blue districts.
The measure largely centered on a fight over what was fair, and groups for and against the measure poured roughly $81 million into advertising in the contest, according to AdImpact. Opinion polls showed “yes” with a modest advantage headed into Tuesday.
Texas triggered the current nationwide redistricting battle at Trump’s urging last summer when the state legislature enacted its new Republican-friendly House map. Typically maps are redrawn every decade after the Census.
Democrats quickly retaliated, and the passage of the Virginia map means the GOP’s mid-decade push has largely backfired, said David Wasserman, a senior editor and elections analyst for the Cook Political Report.
Texas’ redistricting maps were offset by California’s new map, approved last year. Florida, which is currently considering its own effort, won’t be able to redraw enough seats in Republicans’ favor to strengthen the GOP’s hold in the House, said Wasserman. “The upside for Democrats in Virginia is tremendous,” he said.
The redistricting effort still faces legal challenges despite its passage. Opponents have challenged the ballot language as well as the timeline and process of the redistricting bill in the state legislature. The Virginia Supreme Court is still considering whether the legislature broke procedural rules.
Once Again Trump Cannot Think Ahead
- Trump has a proven inability to think ahead. He demanded Texas rig voting to favor Republicans. He was incapable of realizing that California and Virginia might do the same.
- Trump was incapable of thinking of ways Iran might strike back.
- Trump was incapable of thinking the Supreme Court might strike his unconstitutional tariffs.
- Trump was incapable of thinking that treating allies like trash would cause them to not cooperate when he demanded.
- He was incapable of thinking that deportation Gestapo tactics would backfire and he would then need to fire his Homeland Security Secretary.
Let me shorten this. Trump is incapable of thinking ahead.
He just reacts to his feelings.
Idiotic Rant of the Day On the Supreme Court
Truth Social: How can the Democrats not like how the U.S. Supreme Court votes. The Democrat Justices stick together like glue, NEVER failing to wander from the warped and perverse policies, ideas, and cases put before them. They ALWAYS vote as a group, or BLOCK, even that new, Low IQ person, that somehow found her way to the bench (Sleepy Joe!). The Republican Justices don’t stick together, they give the Democrats win after win, like a 159 Billion Dollar pile of cash on a completely ridiculous Tariff decision, and nasty, one sided questions on the country destroying subject of Birthright Citizenship, something which virtually NO OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS STUPID ENOUGH TO ALLOW. It was meant for the babies of slaves, not for the babies of Chinese Billionaires. No, certain “Republican” Justices have just gone weak, stupid, and bad, completely violating what they “supposedly” stood for. Handing over 159 Billion Dollars in Tariff refunds to people who have been Ripping Off our Country for years, is unexplainable. One little sentence would have stoped this record setting payment from having to be made. It is a travesty! Their Tariff decision was an unnecessary and expensive slap in the face to the U.S.A., and a giant victory for its opponents. If they rule against our Country on Birthright Citizenship, which they probably will, it will be even worse, if that’s possible. It will cost America massive amounts of money but, more importantly, it will cost America its DIGNITY! No, the Radical Left Democrats don’t need to “Pack the Court,” it’s already Packed! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Idiotic Rant of the Day On Iran
Truth Social: Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!). They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to “save face.” People approached me four days ago, saying, “Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.” But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Let’s return to redistricting.
We All Lose
I do not agree with these gerrymandering wars by either side. We all lose when state legislatures deprive voters of a choice.
However, once Trump started these non-census-related gerrymandering wars, it was obvious (to anyone who could think) what would happen next.
The Supreme Court made a huge mess of this by ruling gerrymandering for racial reasons is unconstitutional but for political reasons it’s OK. They are basically the same thing.
All a state legislature has to say to get approval is “We are doing this to deprive the other side of votes, not to elect more Blacks.” Seriously, that is the Supreme Court ruling.
If it’s good for Texas, then it’s good for California and Virginia, allegedly.
I disagree. And I think the Court will someday be forced to rethink its ruling. But for now, Democrats won this foolish war Trump started.
Odds of a Blue Wave
I discussed gerrymandering on February 2, 2026 in: Odds of a National “Blue Wave” in Midterm Elections are now 69 percent
Three weeks ago blue wave odds were only 41%.
Texas Gerrymandering May Cost Republicans House Seats in November
At the demand of Trump, Texas politicians re-drew the election maps. This started off a national gerrymandering spree in California, New Jersey, Virginia and elsewhere.
Conventional wisdom is currently no net impact. But that may be about to change.
You can see the result in the Texas State Senate race where a district that went to Trump by a +17 margin went to Democrats by a +14 margin.
Five Reasons Republicans Are Worried About Texas
The Wall Street Journal discusses Five Reasons Republicans Are Worried About This Texas State Senate Race
A souring mood for Trump
The race is fresh evidence, for Democrats, that the national mood has turned against Trump, ahead of midterm elections that will determine the Senate and House majorities for the rest of his term. It follows several other recent victories for Democrats, including flipping the Virginia governor’s seat.
Hispanic voters
The race gives more evidence that Hispanic voters who swung to Republicans in recent cycles may be swinging back. Jason Villalba, a former GOP state lawmaker who now leads the research group Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation, said the special election showed particularly-large swings in precincts with the largest Hispanic populations. The result comes as Hispanic voters in other parts of the state have turned on Trump.
“Whatever inroads the GOP was making recently among Latinos in Texas has begun to really revert,” Villalba said. “That will have implications around Texas and around the country.”
A Test for Gerrymandering
Texas GOP leaders last year redrew their congressional map in an unusual mid-decade redistricting, at Trump’s request, to try to add five new Republican seats. The move set off a scramble to draw new maps across the country as both parties sought to pad their majorities.
If the state Senate race portends significant swings leftward of voters across the state, especially independents, that move could backfire. The new map depended on Texas Republicans maintaining the gains they have made with Hispanic voters, with four of the five new districts being predominantly Hispanic.
2025-2026 Redistricting Tracker: How Many Seats Could Flip?
On February 2, 2026, Cook Political addressed the question How Many Seats Could Flip?
The Cook Political Report redistricting tracker is following developments in every state taking up redistricting, or considering it, over the next several months — as well as the gains that each party could make under redrawn maps. We’re also tracking potential changes to the battleground map if the Supreme Court strikes down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act with its ruling in Louisiana vs Callais, although the effects of the decision may not take full effect in time for the 2026 midterms.
While it’s still not clear how many states will have new maps in 2026, we project that the likeliest scenario is a wash, with neither party netting seats due to redistricting.
Cook Political assumes Texas gerrymandering does not outright backfire. Four of the five new districts in Texas are predominantly Hispanic.
Gerrymandering War Synopsis
There are legal challenges in Louisiana. And there will be challenges in Florida.
The Florida constitution explicitly forbids redistricting with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.
Also, Florida needs to be extremely careful about making assumptions of Latino voters. Florida gerrymandering could cost Republicans votes. And that could also happen if Florida further gerrymanders.
If Maryland, Virginia, and New York go ahead, but Florida and Louisiana don’t (or if Florida and Texas gerrymandering backfire), Republican will lose the gerrymandering war.
As things stand, I believe Republicans will at best break even.
Cook Political has reassessed. Not me. I had this right all along.
Heck, the Texas gerrymandering may even backfire in Texas, in isolation.
Addendum. Everyone Knows
Truth Social: A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA! All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive “Mail In Ballot Drop!” Where have I heard that before — And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split. In addition to everything else, the language on the Referendum was purposefully unintelligible and deceptive. As everyone knows, I am an extraordinarily brilliant person, and even I had no idea what the hell they were talking about in the Referendum, and neither do they! Let’s see if the Courts will fix this travesty of “Justice.” President DONALD J. TRUMP
Judge just ruled the vote invalid.
Trump is so far gone he claims SCOTUS which is 6-3 conservative with 3 that are his picks is packed in favor of the liberals. If you gave this guy 100% of everything, he’d whine he got ripped off.
Be nice if all districts had to be square on a grid with the size of the square dependant on the population. some of these districts look like sea creatures
Better yet. Make it by county. Having political parties doing this crap is ludicrous. With modern technology, congress can be increased in size quite handily. Many people would actually get representation that currently do not.
Personally i would like to see every district drawn purple. Have to vote in primary. And maybe some rank choice thrown in. It would give power to the people. Solid districts give the power to the politicians and donors.
Imo trump is just one head of the hydra that is the republican party. Hes worried about Epstein files / his legacy/ and profiting from his position. Plus impeachment for numerous reasons. . Another head consist of the movers behind the scenes who shape the party direction as whole. For example. Operation red map( google it) made many states more red.
The republican party base is passing on combined with maybe people are waking up to realize republican policies do not really benefit the average red voter. So you get things like rep trying to pass maps that will fail in court but to close to the election to redraw. Thats happened is several southern states. You get Charlie kirk on college campuses trying to sway minds to the right. Tiktok takeover. Culture wars not policies. American car producers required to keep am in car stereos. Lack of any reasonable rules involving social media/ ai/ data in general. Anything that can be used for elections/ Dont forget campaign finance and dark money. .
Seeing trump punish blue states for not supporting him. I dont blame blue state voters for voting to gerrymander. Hey least va and ca got a choice. The people in texas did not.
Another instance of the recent decades’ bipartisan tit-for-tat road to hell.
One of the handful of things that will need to be done to get this country back on the right track will be a national mandate for independent districting commissions.
Given the constitution gives the states the power on elections, SCOTUS did hold that they are not able to rule on political gerrymandering which might allow a congress to pass laws which prevent it.
Trump would never allow such a law
1) Trump does not dictate to SCOTUS, and 2) he does not dictate to a Congress n which he does not have a majority. (He shouldn’t be able to dictate to ANY congress, but that bridge has already been burned.)
Same for Democrats
False. The Democrats have tried to ban gerrymandering multiple times over the last decade. Republicans have defeated every effort, to the point of resorting to the filibuster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_People_Act
He may not be there soon. Maybe the next DOJ will prosecute the molesters if all the files are not shredded my then.
Why is it people don’t understand that if you make a move that others consider to be underhanded that it gives your competitors and or rivals the right to do the same thing.
All you achieve is an escalation ladder that risks the whole system, and possibly the world (in the case of using nukes) to gain an advantage over others.
We are descending at every corner into the anals of insanity as they rip the system, and world apart.
That is the very definition of a decaying and decadent political system. How to get off that merry go round? Only some kind of severe shock might do it, which would probably be accompanied by much suffering (e.g., Civil War or Great Depression/WW2 level stuff).
Unfortunately peelo that seems to be the exact direction we are headed: world war plus a civil war.
did not Mish have a recent post on Spirit airlines? Trump administration in advanced talks for Spirit Airlines rescue package, source says first word that came to my mind Socialism
There’s more to it than that… There’s a grift angle somewhere.
Trump will prolly own 50% of the airline
Would you fly Trump Air?
Airlines know how to cut to the front of the lines anytime the bailouts are to be doled out. Couldn’t last 2 weeks after 9/11/2021.
In other news, Paul, in a slim margin, won in his bid to legally rob Peter. When asked, Paul said this is just democracy in action and it’s only fair to listen to the will of the people.
The issue with this gerrymandering nonsense is that a statewide election is held but its application is to determine districts, whose model is completely ignored by making the question a statewide one.
Look for this to get much much much worse.
“IT’S NOT FAIR WHEN YOU DO IT! TEXAS WAS MINE MINE MINE!!” isn’t much of an argument now, is it?
It’s not limited to Trump, it’s the MAGA cult that has this problem too. It’s almost like they have lizard impulses* (definition below) and brain to match.
In Texas, Democrat Talarico is poised to win the Senate race especially if Paxton is the nominee he is running against and all the Latino gains are effectively gone.
South Texas will never be red again.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/14/south-texas-will-never-be-red-again-builders-warn-gop-over-trumps-immigration-raids-00781374
Trump/GOP squandered every ounce of goodwill and now dems will take House and maybe Senate. Only Trump could do something like this…lol.
Who’s ready and positioned to profit off of open borders?
oh and oil is at $101.60 as I type this….gas prices through the roof!
*Lizard impulses refer to instinctual behaviors driven by the primitive part of the brain, often called the “lizard brain,” which governs basic survival instincts like aggression, territoriality, and reflexive responses to danger.
It’s not over yet because….
Do worry, Trump will find a way to make things even worse.™
They’re fucking stupid, hateful people with no capacity to learn, and no self-awareness.
Calling them people is insulting to lower animals.
There is no need to insult the lizards.
I’ve been really disappointed by Texas in the past… don’t pin too much hopes on that place to turn it around.
California was once a deep red state circa Regan era. Once Texas goes it likely won’t go back so they are trying to hold the line.
There is no doubt that Trump initiated the latest volley, but the gerrymandering war started many years ago with Democrats doing it in blue states.
How much of this is new, versus fighting an old battle to catch up?
Strategic error? Maybe, but let’s not act like Trump was the first to invent this and implement it.
The difference is that in the past, redistricting was generally only done once after each census. Trump was encouraging redistricting mid-decade.
…and that comment sums up this whole nonsense.
“It is the other side’s fault.”
I’d suggest that this is not D vs R – it is just more Team America “my side must win”.
Gerrymandering has been going on for ages.
This vote was a referendum on Trump.
Yes it was! That is why the only thing that will save us is Impeaching and Convicting Trump. And is the only thing that will save what is left of America. Why is this such a hard choice to make?
To be fair, Trump is a symptom.
Start here – this is a political system that has 330 million Americans to choose from, and the only two realistic choices in 2024 were a deranged carnival barker and Willie Brown’s dimbulb former mistress.
*This*?!? is the best we have to offer?!!?
I have long said that, if Team D had simply kidnapped a random woman waiting for her bus, groomed her, put her in a suit and taught her to parrot some talking points, that random woman would have outperformed HRC or Harris.
Biden only wheezed out a win because the country was so sick of four years of Trump idiocy.
110% absolutely correct, Feral! The 2024 election was a choice of the lesser of two weasels. The Republicans had everything they could have ever hoped for – President, both houses of Congress, and even a conservative Supreme Court. All they had to do was govern from the middle and for the people, and they likely could have stayed in power for years and years. But instead we got zealots, charlatans, liars, and grifters. We are doomed to a pendulum of voters repeatedly rejecting the worthlessness of political party and leaders currently in power. Assuming there is a national election in 2028, if the Dems sweep all the power, I shudder to think of the changes that are possible. But the precedent has been set by the current Administration. If ever there was a time ripe for a valid third party candidate, it is now.
That’s the way it works. Back in Nixon’s day, the Democrats had developed a number of political dirty tricks, which they used regularly. Nixon started using them as well. Then the Democrats held up their hands and said, “Look at that awful man! Look what he’s doing!”
Democracy can’t work forever, because it gives too much power to liars and thieves. Eventually the soldiers and the ordinary clods figure it out to some degree, and turn on the liars and thieves. Then you have a new situation.
The party of “end the Electoral College” basically codified it in one direction in Virginia. Imagine a vote that was 51/49 in a state with a lot of representatives only sending 1 of one party to DC compared to 10. Anyone looking at the vote total of just this districting vote can see what was done. I’m shocked they couldn’t find a way to monkeyhammer it to all 11! The sooner we get to a county-by-county national divorce the better.
Let’s just get on with the civil war/national divorce and end the charades.
Are you going out to fight, fat boy?
Fat boy will tell you he plans to leave when heads roll. To where? He doesn’t know for sure, but he’s white so it’ll be fine probably.
“Let’s just get on with the civil war/national divorce and end the charades.”
If that is what it takes to become a republic again and not an empire.
Many of the state legislatures proved themselves to be useless during Covid Theater 5 – 6 years ago. Meanwhile governors and hack mayors were issuing “Proclamations”, “Mandates”, “Declarations”, “Orders”, “Directives”, “Pronouncements”, “Decrees” with absolutely no basis in law. The Dancing Nurses had their backs.
That 17th amendment thingy, too.
Hobbes saw it long ago. It could all unravel back to a war of all against all, where life is nasty, brutish and short. Having relationships means accepting a modicum of frictions, of everything not going my way. If it is principled, and well-crafted, most find it acceptable, maybe even prosperous. Or we can throw it all over in hopes of a fix — like happened in 1917, right?
Look at this guy crying. He’s deep in FO part of FAFO.