The proposal is part of a broader national trend of a surge in efforts to redraw maps outside the typical post-census cycle

Brett Davis
The Center Square Washington

See Grok’s analysis of this story

Democratic lawmakers in Washington state on Tuesday pre-filed legislation for mid-decade congressional redistricting. The proposal is part of a broader national trend of a surge in efforts to redraw maps outside the typical post-census cycle.

House Joint Resolution 4209, sponsored by House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, and state Rep. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state Legislature to conduct congressional redistricting between decennial censuses.

The resolution would authorize the state to redraw its congressional district maps in the middle of the 10-year cycle, deviating from the current practice of redistricting only after the federal census every 10 years.

“Washington state is not going to just sit by while Donald Trump and his allies in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio seek to rig the US House to lock in a Republican majority,” Fitzgibbon wrote in a Wednesday press release. “Democracy is on the line, and Washingtonians deserve a voice in whether or not Trump gets a hand-picked Congress.”

Per HJR 4209, if the state constitution is amended, the Legislature could adjust the congressional map with a simple majority vote in each chamber if another state engages in mid-decade redistricting for reasons other than a court order.

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, responded to the redistricting proposal via X on Wednesday morning. 

“They want to change the state constitution to gerrymander away remaining Republican seats in WA,” Couture posted, referencing that only two Republicans represent Washington state in Congress. 

With a high-stakes battle for the 2026 midterms looming, the Evergreen State appears poised to join the trend of states using congressional redistricting for partisan advantage. U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, and U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, are the only two Republicans who represent Washington state in Congress, compared to 10 Democrats, including both senators. 

The Center Square was unable to immediately reach Baumgartner for comment on Wednesday. 

Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, who chairs the Washington State Republican Party, said amending the state constitution shouldn’t be trivial like HJR 4209, calling it “bad” policy and “hyperpartisan.” He thinks the idea is a “tit-for-tat” response to President Donald Trump’s call for redistricting in Texas. 

Last summer, Texas Republicans initiated a mid-decade redrawing to gain several U.S. House seats. That prompted California Democrats, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, to launch a counter-effort to flip Republican seats in the state through Proposition 50, which was approved by voters in November.

“It doesn’t do any good for anybody in Washington; it doesn’t do any good for any voter. It doesn’t assure any voter of a stronger voice. It’s hyperpartisan,” Walsh told The Center Square, “designed to warp concepts like fair and balanced and equal into a partisan pretzel that favors the Democrat party.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced on Wednesday that he’s planning to call a special session on redistricting in Florida for April. Republicans there are looking to redraw the Sunshine State’s congressional map.

“Voters deserve free and fair elections and an equal voice in Congress. Early partisan redistricting in other states stacks the deck nationally, diluting Washington’s representation before our voters ever weigh in,” Mena wrote in a Wednesday press release. “This legislation defends an independent process and ensures power remains with the people — not partisan mapmakers.”

Walsh thinks that if HJR 4209 were to pass, costly lawsuits would follow the loss of Republican districts. 

In order for the constitutional amendment to pass, a two-thirds majority in each chamber must vote for HJR 4209. Democrats hold strong majorities in the House and Senate, but are just a few seats shy of a two-thirds majority in both, meaning HJR 4209 would require a few Republican votes as well. 

Walsh said he doesn’t think any Republicans are willing to sign on, but wouldn’t rule out some members of his party making deals with Democrats to pass this if they support Republican proposals.   

“WA Democrats have filed a constitutional amendment (apparently) as a signaling piece of legislation to show what they plan to do if they should get a ⅔ majority in the Legislature in the 2026 election,” the Conservative Ladies of America’s Washington state chapter posted to X on Wednesday morning. 

The Center Square contacted House and Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle for comment and will update the story with their perspectives as they respond. 

Washington’s 60-day legislative session starts on Jan. 12. 

Reporter Tim Clouser contributed to this updated story. This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.

Under the Grok Lens

Analysis created with Grok

This independent analysis was created with Grok, an AI model from xAI. It is not written or edited by ClarkCountyToday.com and is provided to help readers evaluate the article’s sourcing and context.

Quick summary

Democratic lawmakers pre‑filed House Joint Resolution 4209, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Washington to conduct mid‑decade congressional redistricting if another state redraws its maps for non‑court‑ordered reasons. Supporters describe it as a response to national redistricting moves—especially by Republicans in states such as Texas—while critics call it an overtly partisan change to Washington’s rules.

What Grok notices

• Quotes supporters (including Reps. Fitzgibbon and Mena) portraying HJR 4209 as a defensive measure intended to protect voter representation if other states pursue mid‑cycle redraws for political reasons.
• Includes criticism from Republicans (including Rep. Couture and party chair Jim Walsh) describing the proposal as hyperpartisan and warning it could normalize tit‑for‑tat gerrymandering behavior.
• Places the measure in a national context by referencing recent or discussed redistricting efforts in places such as Texas, California, and Florida, and notes Washington’s current 8–2 Democratic congressional delegation.
• Explains the procedural hurdles for a constitutional amendment—such as the two‑thirds legislative vote threshold—and notes the potential for lawsuits, helping readers gauge how difficult enactment would be.
• Signals that the full text of HJR 4209 and how it defines “non‑court‑ordered” redistricting would be key for understanding when the provision could actually be triggered.

Questions worth asking

• How might mid‑decade congressional redistricting affect voter turnout, public trust, and perceptions of fairness in Washington’s election system?
• Beyond another state’s actions, what standards or factual triggers should justify a mid‑cycle redraw, and who would determine whether the trigger has been met?
• How have independent or bipartisan redistricting commissions in other states reduced (or failed to reduce) partisan map‑drawing concerns?
• Historically, how have mid‑decade redraws in other states influenced U.S. House control or the competitiveness of congressional districts?
• What safeguards—community‑of‑interest protections, transparency rules, judicial review standards—could be added to ensure any redraw prioritizes representation over party advantage?

Research this topic more

• Washington State Legislature – text and bill status for HJR 4209
• Washington Redistricting Commission – current maps, rules, and commission process
• Brennan Center for Justice – research on redistricting, gerrymandering, and national trends
• National Conference of State Legislatures – state redistricting laws and commission structures
• U.S. Census Bureau – congressional apportionment data and background

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