Redistricting plans being pursued in multiple states — which in some cases were advocated by President Trump to help keep Republican control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections, and in others are Democratic-led efforts to counteract the GOP effort — have been in the news daily. After previously advocating for Texas redistricting, President Trump in an August social media post praised redistricting efforts in the state and encouraged others to follow. This comes amid the historical expectation that the party of a sitting president will lose House seats in the midterms, which has proved true in the past five midterm election cycles. A president hasn't gained seats in the midterm following his election since George W. Bush in the 2002 midterms.

Seats won or lost by the party of the president in midterm elections since 2000:

Source: The American Presidency Project, UC Santa Barbara

In Virginia, which separately has a gubernatorial election next month, it was announced October 23 that state lawmakers are returning to session today (October 27) to potentially consider a redistricting plan that could deliver two additional seats to Democrats. It would be the second state, behind California, to act to bolster Democratic seats as a response to the President's push for more GOP seats. Redistricting usually occurs after the decennial US census, and mid-decade efforts require changing the constitution in states like California and Virginia.

In Virginia, "To do that, majorities in consecutive sessions of the legislature — once this year and again after Jan. 15 when newly-elected delegates are seated — must approve the amendment. Then, it would have to pass a statewide referendum, which could go before voters early next year," the New York Times reported.

Virginia has 11 seats in the US House, six controlled by Democrats and five by Republicans. Redistricting there is seen as potentially giving Democrats control of two or three additional seats. In California, "voters will soon consider a ballot proposition intended to counter Trump and Republicans" that could give Democrats five additional seats, according to a story in the Sunday Washington Post.

Republicans in North Carolina last week approved a new congressional district map that is seen as having the potential to add one seat for Republicans, who currently hold 10 congressional seats compared with four for Democrats. In Texas, which was the original target of President Trump's advocacy for redistricting, redrawn district maps could help Republicans win five additional seats. Missouri has approved a map to give Republicans control of seven of eight congressional districts compared with the six they hold now, according to a PBS report, which also said: "Ohio's constitution requires new U.S. House districts because the ones adopted by Republican officials after the 2020 census didn't have sufficient bipartisan support. If bipartisan consensus remains elusive, Republican lawmakers in November could adopt revised districts without need of any Democratic votes. Republicans currently hold a 10-5 majority over Democrats in" House seats.

Other states are contemplating redistricting, and some are facing headwinds. "Republicans in Indiana and Kansas say their party doesn't have enough votes to pass new, more GOP-friendly maps. It's made the two states outliers in the rush to redistrict … " the AP reported October 26.

ABC News reported October 22, "Louisiana lawmakers are to convene Wednesday in a special session called by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to consider changes to next year's election schedule. Republicans are trying to position the state for redistricting, in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the state's current congressional map." That is a reference to Louisiana v. Callais, in which a group voters sued to overturn the creation of a majority-Black district after the 2020 census. The case questions the constitutionality of Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race. A SCOTUS ruling against Section 2 could weaken protections for minority voters and shift electoral power, particularly in Southern states, by undoing majority-minority districts in several states.

Other states that may pursue redistricting include Maryland, Utah, Florida, Nebraska and Illinois.

Congress — The government shutdown continues, after nearly four weeks. It's unclear if additional votes will be held on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to patch government funding until November 21, which the Senate hasn't passed because of the partisan dispute over whether to attach an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits.

The focus may be on plans to pay workers affected by the shutdown, including the potential reconsideration of a bill that failed last week, the Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 3012), "to appropriate funds for pay and allowances of excepted Federal employees for periods of work performed during a lapse in appropriations." Other such bills that could be considered include:

• S. 3002 by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), to provide continuing appropriations for military pay for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for FY2026 are not in effect (i.e., a government shutdown)
• S. 3031 by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to pay air traffic controllers during the shutdown

In addition to federal worker paychecks, other pressure points on the shutdown include the funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funding, which Congress has already allocated for emergency scenarios, if the government shutdown stretches into November," the Hill reported.

On Wednesday, October 29, the Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing on the nominations of:

• Arjun Mody to be Deputy Commissioner Social Security
• Jeffrey Goettman to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Africa, Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Environment, Labor, and Industrial Competitiveness)
• Julie Callahan to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative
• Thomas Bell to be Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services

Also on Wednesday, October 29, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will hold a hearing on "The Future of Biotech: Maintaining U.S. Competitiveness and Delivering Lifesaving Cures to Patients."

On Thursday, October 30, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing on the "Nomination of Casey Means to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Surgeon General of the Public Health Service."

Trade — On Saturday, October 25, President Trump, who is traveling in Asia, posted on social media regarding Canada, "I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now," in response to a trade-focused advertisement that he found objectionable. He previously cited the ad in announcing on October 23 that the US was ending trade negotiations with Canada, effective immediately.

Congressional Democrats including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Democrat Richard Neal (D-MA) decried the move. Senator Schumer said in an October 24 statement, "Next week, Senate Democrats will force votes to reverse Donald Trump's damaging tariffs on Canada and other countries that have been one of the driving forces behind higher prices." It isn't yet clear which resolutions to overturn national emergency declarations against US trading partners will be considered.