A Democratic-aligned group backed by the House Majority PAC filed four versions of a 2026 ballot measure Tuesday that would temporarily suspend Colorado’s independent congressional redistricting commission and redraw the state’s map in an effort to flip three Republican-held U.S. House seats in 2028.

The group Coloradans for a Level Playing Field is pushing for the ballot measure amid a national debate over redistricting as Republicans and Democrats prepare for the midterms.

President Donald Trump’s call last year to redraw U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 elections has led to a wave of political maneuvering among state-level Republicans and Democrats that continues to unfold across the country.

Texas first redrew its congressional map, passed by the Republican-led legislature, which quickly drew federal lawsuits. California responded with a referendum on new U.S. House districts. The referendum, backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic state lawmakers, is intended to help Democrats win five additional seats in California to offset Trump’s moves in Texas to try to gain five Republican districts.

The U.S. House currently stands at 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats, with three vacancies. Traditionally, the president’s political party loses seats in the midterms. The website 270towin forecasts 210 seats for Democrats, 206 for Republicans, and 19 toss-ups for 2026, based on consensus forecasts.

California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas have already adopted new maps for the 2026 election, with California’s map favoring Democrats and the other states’ maps favoring Republicans.

Florida is expected to hold a special session in April to shift more of its Democratic seats to Republicans.

Virginia and Maryland have begun redistricting efforts to favor Democratic candidates.

In a statement on Wednesday, spokesman Curtis Hubbard said, “No one wanted to have to take this action — independent redistricting is the ideal. But with Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans actively working to rig Congressional elections, resulting in the potential gain of up to 27 seats in Congress, Colorado must join other states in countering this unprecedented power grab.”

The Republican seats being targeted by the ballot measures are in Colorado’s 3rd, 5th and 8th Congressional districts. The 8th is already considered one of the most competitive districts in the country.

According to the group, the four versions are:

• Version 1: A single statutory initiative moving the Congressional redistricting commission from the state constitution to the statutes; approving a map for the 2028 and 2030 elections; and reverting to an independent commission after the 2030 Census. Needs 50% to pass.
• Versions 2 and 3: A statutory initiative moving the Congressional redistricting commission from the state constitution to the statutes; paired with a second statutory initiative approving a map for the 2028 and 2030 elections; and reverting to an independent commission after the 2030 Census. Both would need 50% support to pass for either to take effect.
• Version 4: A single amendment to the state constitution to suspend the Congressional redistricting commission for 2028 and 2030; putting a map in statute to be used in 2028 and 2030 elections; and reverting to the independent commission after the 2030 Census. Needs 55% to pass. 

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the group is backed by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who chairs the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, and Colorado’s effort is likely to be funded by the House Majority PAC, which supports Democratic congressional races.

OpenSecrets reported the PAC spent $256 million in the 2024 election cycle.

In a statement Wednesday, Holder said Republicans have “demonstrated that their mid-decade gerrymanders will not end after the 2026 midterms, and in the face of that continued threat, Colorado is taking a responsible step by asking the voters to weigh in on the state’s temporary response.”

“Let’s be clear: Colorado did not choose this fight. As Republicans pursue mid-decade gerrymanders in other states, the American people, including Coloradans, will fight back,” he added. 

The first line of that 2018 measure reads: “The practice of political gerrymandering, whereby congressional districts are purposefully drawn to favor one political party or incumbent politician over another, must end.”

Advance Colorado’s Michael Fields said his group is prepared to challenge the ballot measure when it gets to the state’s title board and is planning to take the matter all the way to the state Supreme Court if necessary.

“Over 70% of Colorado voters supported creating our Independent Redistricting Commission in 2018,” Fields said.

“After reviewing these hyper-partisan ballot measure proposals, we believe that they clearly violate the single-subject provision of our state constitution,” he added.

The first step in the process, a review and comment hearing with the Colorado General Assembly’s nonpartisan Legislative Council staff, is scheduled for March 3.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.