A growing sense of dread is spreading through Democratic circles as a rapidly shifting political landscape threatens to complicate the party’s path back to House control in November.

Democrats entered the year with momentum after California voters approved Proposition 50, a mid-decade redistricting overhaul that redrew congressional lines to benefit the party through the 2026, 2028, and 2030 election cycles. Under the new map, Democrats could potentially capture as many as 48 of California’s 52 House seats. The move was in response to President Donald Trump urging Texas to redraw its maps to potentially net five more Republican House seats ahead of November’s general election.