Daniel DiDonato, an 18-year-old student at the University of Alabama, works on a map of the Senate district in a joint study area at Martha Parham Hall in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. DiDonato created the map that a federal judge ordered implemented for Alabama’s 2026 and 2030 elections after ruling that the Montgomery-area counties violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
President Donald Trump is still pushing Republican-led states to redistrict their congressional races to facilitate the GOP retain control of the House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections.
This led to an unusual burst of redistricting in the middle of the decade in some states, such as Texas and North Carolina, which adopted fresh maps that gave an advantage to Republicans.
To counteract them, the Democratic-led states of California and Virginia are pushing for a redesign of their congressmen.
Meanwhile, Maryland state lawmakers are at an impasse over whether to change their maps after a House-approved redistricting plan stalled in the Senate.
In episode 15, Maryland Affairs reporter Bryan Sears will break down what’s going on in Annapolis.
Over in Alabama, they’ve enacted fresh Senate maps drawn by an unexpected cartographer – a college freshman.
They meet Daniel DiDonato, a University of Alabama student and cartographer.
Finally, Evening wrapping Newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s seeing.
Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States, composed by David Singer.
Click Here for the full transcript:
Relevant reading from state newsrooms and partners:
- Utah’s redistricting dispute lands in federal court; Anti-gerrymandering plaintiffs are asking for intervention (Utah Dispatch)
- The judge must decide whether Missouri’s passed congressional map is in effect (Missouri Independent)
- University of Alabama freshmen draw court-ordered state Senate map (Alabama reflector)
- The redistricting bill makes its way through the House and runs into trouble in the Senate (Maryland Matters)
- Virginia Democrats release long-awaited 10-1 congressional map (Virginia Mercury)
Do you have questions? An episode idea? Send us an email at Podcast@statesnewsroom.com
This podcast is produced by States Newsrooma nonprofit news station that includes West Virginia Watch and is a 501c(3) charity supported by grants and a coalition of donors.
