President Donald Trump is teaming up with a once-reluctant conservative juggernaut to redraw the political battleground in Republican strongholds.
This bold strategy, backed by the influential Club for Growth, aims to fortify the GOP’s razor-thin House majority by urging Republican-controlled states to craft new congressional maps mid-decade for more right-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, as Fox News reports.
Let’s rewind a bit to understand the stakes. Trump’s team is haunted by the memory of the 2018 midterms, when Democrats snatched the House majority during his first term, and they’re determined to avoid a repeat performance. Now, with the Club for Growth on board, the push for redistricting is gaining serious traction.
Here’s the twist—the Club for Growth hasn’t always been in Trump’s corner. Despite past tensions during the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race, a reconciliation early that year patched things up, paving the way for this joint effort.
David McIntosh, the Club’s president, isn’t mincing words about their commitment. “We're all in on helping Republicans do redistricting,” McIntosh told Fox News Digital, signaling a full-throttle approach to reshaping the electoral landscape.
And they’re not just talking a big game—they’re putting serious money behind it. The Club is pouring over seven figures into multiple states to support these redistricting efforts, a financial muscle-flex that could tip the scales.
Texas led the charge as the first Republican-controlled state to pass a mid-decade congressional map, though a ruling by two federal judges has thrown a wrench into those plans with a potential reversal. Meanwhile, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio have followed suit, jumping on the redistricting bandwagon.
Indiana, where McIntosh once served as a congressman, is the latest battleground in this high-stakes game. Trump isn’t playing nice, threatening primary challenges against GOP state lawmakers who drag their feet on passing these measures.
The Club for Growth Action super PAC is also in the fray, running ads to drum up support for Trump’s redistricting push in right-leaning states. If that’s not enough, McIntosh is doubling down, saying, “Democrats for years have gerrymandered, and Republicans have not, and now it's time.” Well, isn’t that a polite way to say it’s payback time?
Beyond redistricting, the Club is flexing its influence in a special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, vacant since former Rep. Mark Green resigned in June 2025 for a private sector gig. They’re backing Trump-endorsed candidate Matt Van Epps with another seven-figure spend.
Looking further ahead, the Club isn’t resting on its laurels. They’ve already raised $25 million of a planned $40 million fund to safeguard the GOP House majority in 2026, a war chest that could make or break key races.
McIntosh and his team are also scouring the field for staunch conservative candidates to endorse in GOP primaries, focusing on fiscal policies like tax cuts and slashing regulations. It’s a clear signal they want lawmakers who’ll stick to a no-nonsense, America-first economic agenda.
Of course, Democrats aren’t sitting idly by while Republicans redraw the map. Fresh off wins in 2025, they’re building momentum around issues like affordability and cutting costs, hoping to sway voters by 2026.
While Trump’s camp pushes for more GOP-friendly districts, the opposition is ready to paint this as a power grab, arguing it sidesteps the real concerns of everyday Americans. It’s a classic clash of priorities—structural advantage versus pocketbook promises.
Make no mistake, the road to 2026 will be a slugfest, with legal challenges, ad wars, and primary showdowns shaping the battlefield. The Club for Growth and Trump may have buried the hatchet, but whether their redistricting gambit pays off remains the million-dollar question—or, more accurately, the seven-figure one.
