Donald Trump’s gerrymandering war of 2025-26 has taken several twists and turns. But Republicans now appear poised to emerge with an advantage.

That reality is taking shape after last month’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling spurred a slew of southern red states to start the process of drawing new GOP-friendly maps, and after Virginia’s high court struck down the state’s Democratic-backed map Friday.

Those twin blows mean this fall’s midterms appear unlikely to be fought out on a level playing-field, undermining hopes for a fair election.