New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has ruled out engaging in a tit-for-tat redistricting war ahead of the 2026 midterms, citing the state’s tit-for-tat status during the census period. The Cook Political Report by Amy Walter suggests that New Hampshire has two competitive seats currently held by Democrats. The 1st Congressional District, currently held by Democrats, could open up an opportunity for Republicans, but without redistricting, it is likely to remain in Democratic hands in 2026. Ayotte’s predecessor, Gov. Chris Sununu, vetoed a new map passed by Republicans in the state legislature in 2022.
The political war over congressional districts has escalated in recent weeks, with Texas calling for a special legislative session to redraw voting lines to gain five new seats in the midterms. In response, Texas House Democratic lawmakers fled the state to ensure a vote on new districts would not take place. President Trump has called for a new census to avoid illegally counting people in the U.S.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for a special election in November to bypass the independent redistricting commission and allow voters to approve a bill to allow Democrats to pass a new voting map.
