Republicans cling to Trump as gerrymandering fails to secure expected gains
Republican leaders warn that despite new district maps, Democrats remain competitive in many redrawn seats, and Trump is pushing ads to boost turnout.
According to one outlet Republican Congressional Committee, newly drawn districts in states such as California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama were expected to favor Republicans, but Democrats are still competitive in many of them. The committee highlighted that the Texas 35th District, for example, has never been carried by a Democrat, yet it is now a target for the party. Party officials acknowledge that the anticipated seat gains from the recent redistricting effort are falling short of earlier projections, partly due to President Donald Trump's approval rating hovering in the high-30s and the ongoing Iran conflict affecting voters.
A recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling blocked a one-seat GOP gerrymander from taking effect unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes. To counter waning enthusiasm, Trump has launched a series of campaign ads aimed at increasing Republican turnout, a strategy that some GOP strategists criticize as turning every race into a referendum on Trump.
Why it matters
The story shows how internal GOP tensions and legal setbacks could shape the balance of power in upcoming elections.
How this story developed
- Aug 15 Trump aides say president reluctant to campaign for down-ballot Republicans
- Sep 1 President Trump arrived in Texas to fundraise for Ken Paxton.
- Sep 1 GOP donors publicly request a $100‑$200 million cash injection from MAGA Inc.’s $403 million reserve.
- Sep 1 Lone Star Liberty PAC committed $15 million to a new television advertising campaign for Paxton.
- Sep 2 Trump told reporters the helipad, intended for Marine One, is now operational after critics warned that landing on the lawn was unsafe. The announcement coincides with the restart of construction on the White House Ballroom, a project the president has championed despite legal challenges. The Supreme Court recently cleared the way for continued building, and Trump says private funds are covering the work. He also highlighted other capital-area renovations, including work near the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool.
- Sep 2 The Cook Political Report moved Texas and Iowa into toss‑up status.
- Sep 2 A poll shows Talarico at 44.0% and Paxton at 43.4% among likely voters.
- Sep 3 The Justice Department petitioned the Supreme Court to suspend a district judge’s order that halted a new USPS regulation tightening mail-in ballot requirements.
- Sep 3 Sand publicly opposed Harris’s potential 2028 presidential run.
- Sep 4 The Supreme Court ruled that the lawsuit challenging the ballroom lacks standing, allowing construction to continue.
- Sep 4 The administration filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court.
- Sep 5 Judge extended the preliminary injunction blocking the rule.
- Sep 5 Trump said, "A lot of people don't call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing."
- Sep 5 Judge Talwani issued a new order on Friday extending the injunction.
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