Across the nation, a redistricting war is playing out—and Governor Mikie Sherrill signals she’s open to joining the fight. New maps could cost New Jersey Republicans their seats in Congress.
Sherrill said during a CNN interview Thursday that she’s open to redrawing New Jersey’s congressional districts. It signals a major shift for a state that has largely stayed out of the nationwide redistricting battle, which began when Texas redrew its congressional maps in 2025 at the request of Donald Trump ahead of the Midterms. After legal challenges, the Supreme Court approved the new maps, which could pick up an additional five seats for Republicans in the Lone Star State. In the months since, an all-out redistricting battle has ensued, including in California, Virginia, Louisiana, and now Florida.
Sherrill echoed this battle: “If Trump is going to try to attack fair voting across the country, then New Jersey’s going to stand up so that we can create a counterbalance to whatever he’s doing,” she said.
When pressed on whether she would actively encourage the legislature to redraw the maps, Sherrill was clear: “Depending on how these maps go, certainly.”
Republicans Could Lose Seats
New Jersey currently has 12 congressional seats—nine held by Democrats, three by Republicans. Those three Republican-held seats are currently held by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2), Chris Smith (NJ-4), and Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7).
While it’s unlikely that Rep. Smith is drawn out, Kean Jr. and Van Drew could easily lose their seats under new maps, which would shift the balance in New Jersey: 11 Democrats to one Republican.
The Challenges
Changing New Jersey’s maps isn’t as simple as we’ve seen in other states. The state’s redistricting process is enshrined in the constitution and run by a 13-member bipartisan commission. A mid-decade redraw would require a constitutional amendment—either passed with three-fifths majorities in both chambers once, or with simple majorities two years in a row, according to New Jersey Globe. If Democrats move quickly, an amendment could appear on the ballot as soon as November 2026.
Democrats hold supermajorities in both the Assembly and Senate, but Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin have not yet signaled whether they would support the effort.
The Pushback
New Jersey GOP Chairwoman Christine Hanlon called Sherrill’s comments a sign of “partisanship, not leadership.” Even some Democrats are hesitant—Reps. LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, both of whom criticized the Supreme Court’s recent Voting Rights Act decision, said they don’t want New Jersey to redraw its maps in retaliation, noting that current districts are fairly representative of the state.