The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Today, Explained newsletter

Democrats are winning the redistricting war — for now, anyway

Between Florida and the Supreme Court, a lot could still change.

This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. Subscribe here.

As the old-timey term suggests, gerrymandering has a long history in American politics. But it has intensified in recent years — first after the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts cannot review partisan gerrymandering claims, and again last summer, when President Donald Trump urged Republicans in Texas to redraw their maps ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Texas Republicans drew up new congressional districts last summer that are expected to net their party five more US House seats in the upcoming midterm election. Californians responded by voting for an equal and opposite redistricting plan that should swing five seats for Democrats.

On Tuesday night, Dems notched another big win when voters in Virginia approved a new map that’s expected to flip four seats their way. But the Great Redistricting Wars aren’t over. In fact, they’re still spilling over to other states. So, this morning, we’re tallying each side’s score in the electoral arms race (and concluding that the real loser might be democracy).

Democrats strike back. The Virginia referendum —........

© Vox