Democrats are investing $30 million through the super PAC Forward Majority to influence two dozen state legislative races this year, aiming to shape House maps ahead of the 2028 elections, according to axios.com. The group targets as few as eight key statehouse races that could determine control over redistricting for six U.S. House seats.
Forward Majority CEO Leslie Martes described the current political landscape as "the Wild West," emphasizing the importance of focusing resources on the right legislative districts among the 7,000 across the country. The group is focusing on districts like Arizona's 17th State Senate District, held by a Republican but where Kamala Harris won in the 2020 presidential race. This strategy follows recent aggressive redistricting moves by both parties in states such as Texas and California.
The effort comes after the Supreme Court's Callais ruling weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, allowing more aggressive redistricting tactics. In 2026, ten states adopted new maps, while others considered but delayed redraws due to deadlines or legislative hesitancy. Republicans have also pursued mid-cycle redistricting to increase their House seats, prompting Democrats to respond with similar strategies.
Forward Majority's $30 million campaign this year aims to influence state legislatures that control redistricting, a critical factor in shaping the political balance of the U.S. House for the 2028 elections, axios.com reported.