House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is throwing punches, claiming Republicans can’t rig the 2026 midterms through gerrymandering.
On CNN’s “State of the Union” on August 24, 2025, Jeffries predicted Democrats would flip the House majority, accusing Texas Republicans of racial gerrymandering while defending New York’s redistricting as fair and bipartisan.
Jeffries’ confidence stems from Democrats’ 2018 midterm success, when they turned a 24-seat deficit into a 40-seat gain. He argues Republicans are “running scared” and banking on map manipulation to cling to power. But his bold prediction ignores the gritty reality of political trench warfare.
Jeffries touted Democrats’ focus on fixing health care and rooting out corruption. It’s a classic playbook: promise reform, paint the other side as crooked. Yet, voters might wonder if these pledges hold up against skyrocketing premiums and D.C.’s endless scandals.
Republicans, Jeffries claims, are failing and resorting to gerrymandering to secure a 2026 win. He specifically called out Texas, alleging a “racial partisan gerrymander” ordered by Donald Trump. That’s a spicy accusation, but evidence of Trump’s direct involvement feels like a stretch.
Host Dana Bash pushed back, questioning Jeffries on New York’s redistricting, where Democrats redrew maps originally set by an independent commission. Jeffries dodged the hypocrisy charge, insisting New York’s process was bipartisan. Funny how “bipartisan” often means “we got what we wanted.”
Jeffries claimed New York’s redrawn maps were fair, passed with both Democratic and Republican votes in the state assembly. Sounds noble, but fairness is in the eye of the beholder—especially when the beholder benefits. Critics might argue it’s just gerrymandering with better PR.
Bash’s question cut deep: If Democrats cry foul over Texas, why cheer New York’s map-tinkering? Jeffries’ response leaned on the bipartisan label, but voters aren’t dumb—they see the double standard. Pot, meet kettle.
In Texas, Jeffries alleges a Trump-driven plot to rig the midterms through racial gerrymandering. It’s a serious charge, but without concrete proof tying Trump to map-drawing, it risks sounding like political theater. Republicans might counter that Democrats are just as guilty of playing the redistricting game.
Jeffries leaned heavily on the 2018 midterms to bolster his case. Democrats’ 40-seat haul back then was impressive, flipping the House despite starting 24 seats behind. But 2026 isn’t 2018—different issues, different voters, different stakes.
“We’re not going to let it happen,” Jeffries declared, vowing to block Republican gerrymandering efforts. It’s a rallying cry, but stopping redistricting shenanigans requires more than tough talk—it needs legal muscle and voter turnout. Good luck with that in a polarized climate.
Jeffries’ claim that Republicans “have failed” might fire up his base, but it’s a gamble. Dismissing the opposition as weak can backfire when voters feel both sides are failing. The GOP could easily flip the script and point to Democrat-controlled cities struggling with crime and costs.
Democrats’ agenda, per Jeffries, hinges on fixing a “broken health care system.” It’s a crowd-pleaser, but the devil’s in the details—Obamacare’s still divisive, and costs keep climbing. Vague promises won’t cut it when families are pinching pennies.
Jeffries also emphasized cleaning up corruption, a jab at GOP leadership. Yet, D.C.’s swamp drains slowly, and both parties have their share of ethical stumbles. Voters might roll their eyes at another politician promising a cleanup.
“Republicans are running scared,” Jeffries said, framing the GOP as desperate. It’s a bold zinger, but overconfidence could haunt Democrats if redistricting battles tilt the other way. Politics is a knife fight, not a victory lap.
