Reshaping representation: Midterm elections and emerging district map battles

Congressional elections are central to American democratic representation. Their importance underpins recent concerns about partisan gerrymandering in the states and makes civic participation even more critical given the narrow majorities in Congress. Indeed, the outcome of congressional elections has significant consequences for whose voices are reflected in state and federal policymaking, especially when both parties have used redistricting strategically to improve their electoral prospects. In advance of the 2026 midterm elections, this event will contextualize past redistricting efforts and explore some of the most pressing threats to today’s electoral process. Our panel will discuss the long history of redistricting in the United States, differentiate between racial gerrymandering and partisan gerrymandering, discuss the intersection of race and partisan objectives, highlight the role of recent state independent redistricting commissions and California’s Prop 50, along with exclusionary changes to the Voting Rights Act and recent actions taken by the Supreme Court. You will not want to miss this informative discussion as you prepare to participate in these important elections.

This event is the first in a series of 2026-27 Resilient Democracy events brought to you by the Institute for Social Transformation.

Free and open to the public with registration: RSVP HERE to attend in-person or virtually. Questions? Contact transform@ucsc.edu.

Moderator:

Melanie Springer, Associate Professor of Politics (UC Santa Cruz).

Springer specializes in American Politics. Her research and teaching interests include American political development, political history, voting and elections, state politics and policymaking, federalism, sovereignty, Native American political rights, political parties, and political institutions.

Panelists:

Sonal Shah, Board Chair of Consumer Reports and Senior Advisor for Results Prism Advisory.

Shah is an economist and entrepreneur who previously served as the chief executive officer at The Texas Tribune and interim executive vice president at United Way Worldwide. Sonal led the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Obama administration and served as the international economist at the Department of the Treasury.

Elspeth Wilson, Assistant Teaching Professor in Politics/Legal Studies (UC Santa Cruz).

Wilson’s research and teaching focus on U.S. citizenship, civil rights and liberties, constitutional law and interpretation, immigration law, reproductive law, and American political development. She is particularly interested in civic inequality and how law and public policy shape political membership, rights, and democratic inclusion.

Erik J. Engstrom, Professor of Political Science (UC Davis).

Engstrom specializes in the study of the U.S. Congress, political parties, and American political development. His research articles have appeared in leading political science journals, including the American Political Science Review and the American Journal of Political Science. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation.

Student Q&A Moderators:

• Angela Navarro, double major in Legal Studies and Politics (Stevenson College ’28). Angela interned for THE-TEAM as a Social Impact Intern, and founded Women in Law, the first women-focused pre-law organization at UCSC.
• Nidhi Bhat, politics major (Cowell College ’28). Nidhi interned with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage this past spring and summer and participated in the UC Washington DC (UCDC) Program.

Co-sponsored by: UC Santa Cruz Institute for Social Transformation, Politics Department, Legal Studies Program, Chancellor’s Office, Merrill College, Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and The Humanities Institute.

Register to vote! On November 3, 2026 there will be a General Election. Make sure you are registered to vote. You can get more information on the California Secretary of State website or the Santa Cruz County Elections Department. UCSC students, click here for information on how to vote on campus.