Louisiana and Virginia take steps toward redistricting in a growing battle for US House power

Republican lawmakers in Louisiana and Democrats in Virginia pressed ahead Wednesday with plans that could allow mid-decade redistricting as part of a growing national battle for partisan advantage in next year's congressional elections. Louisiana lawmakers passed legislation pushing back the state's 2026 primary elections by a month — a move that could give lawmakers extra time to redraw the state's U.S. House districts if the Supreme Court strikes down the current boundaries. Meanwhile, Virginia lawmakers were considering a proposed constitutional amendment that, if ultimately approved by voters, would allow lawmakers to temporarily bypass a bipartisan redistricting commission and redraw congressional districts in response to similar efforts in other states.