Jeffries Looks Ahead to 2028 After Redistricting Setback

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) seems to have accepted defeat in the 2026 redistricting process, but he’s already strategizing for a comeback in 2028.

Reflecting on the situation, there’s this feeling of failure mixed with a bit of humiliation…

“By 2028, additional states are expected to join the fray, including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Maryland,” Jeffries noted. “That’s at least seven states. We’ll be prepared to mount a strong response to what’s occurring in the Deep South.”

He continued: “As some governors have hinted publicly, and as the New Jersey Senate President mentioned earlier today, we intend to move forward with that now.”

Before him lies a staggering $80 million, the sum the Democrats spent in their losing attempt over Virginia’s redistricting.

Let’s break down Hakeem’s findings. The first figure represents the number of seats held by Democrats compared to Republicans, alongside Democratic seat proportions and President Trump’s vote share in each state.

• New York: 19D-7R — Democrats occupy 73.1% of seats in a state where Trump garnered 43.3% of the vote.
• New Jersey: 9D-3R — Democrats possess 75% of seats while Trump received 46.1% of the votes.
• Colorado: 4D-4R — Democrats hold 50% of seats in a state where Trump got 43.1% of the vote.
• Washington: 8D-2R — Democrats control 80% of seats with Trump at 39% of the vote.
• Oregon: 5D-1R — Democrats have 83.3% of seats in a state where Trump won 41% of the votes.
• Illinois: 14D-3R — Democrats hold 82.4% of seats while Trump received 43.5% of the votes.
• Maryland: 7D-1R — Democrats command 87.5% of seats in a state where Trump won 34.1% of the votes.

It’s apparent that, aside from Colorado, these states have been extensively manipulated to benefit Democrats beyond the actual proportion of their voters.

This raises a question: what sort of impact can this really have?

An even bigger concern is the extent to which the Republican Party, which used to shy away from adopting aggressive gerrymandering tactics before Trump, can go moving forward.

A challenge for Democrats lies in their urban strongholds. How many more districts can they genuinely claim in cities like Chicago or New York, especially given the scale of states like Illinois and New York?

The Democratic Party seems to be running out of ways to exert its influence. Meanwhile, the Republican Party has room to grow, as long as they don’t shy away from stepping up. Those Republicans who lack courage might find themselves replaced soon enough.