Hakeem Jeffries: At least 7 blue states could redistrict by 2028

By Jen Rice

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a Democratic Caucus meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Donald Trump’s national redistricting war is far from over, but Democrats are ready to redraw congressional maps in seven more states ahead of the 2028 election, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Center for American Progress conference, he called the current electoral system “rigged against everyday day Americans to benefit the elites.” 

The solution, he said, will “require massive campaign finance reform, massive electoral reform, and yes, massive Supreme Court reform, as well.”

Jeffries’ comments come on the heels of major setbacks for Democrats. 

In recent weeks, the Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out the results of a redistricting referendum election backed by Democrats and the U.S. Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act, a ruling that has prompted a rush of last-minute GOP gerrymanders across the South. 

Despite that, Jeffries said Democrats are still on track to win the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. And they are laying the groundwork to respond to Trump’s gerrymanders with new redistricting efforts in Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and Maryland.

In Virginia, Democrats plan to “restore” their proposed “10-1” map by 2028, he said.

Unlike in GOP-controlled states that have gerrymandered over the past year at Trump’s demand, many blue states have constitutional barriers in place preventing them from quickly responding. Some Democratic-controlled states require lawmakers to approve changes in two consecutive legislative sessions. 

Jeffries said he expects several of those blue states to take initial votes this year to circumvent their redistricting processes and then take second votes in 2027.

He also mentioned pending litigation in Wisconsin that could allow Democrats to make redistricting gains. 

Asked about Supreme Court reform, Jeffries answered: “All options are on the table.” 

If Democrats win the House, that effort would be led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), he added. A former constitutional law professor, Raskin has been vocal about both the Supreme Court and reforming the electoral system.