President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis both endorsed redoing the U.S. census to exclude illegal immigrants ahead of the 2026 midterms, arguing that current counts unfairly boost blue states at the expense of states like Florida. During a Tuesday presser, Trump said, “California would lose like five seats if they did a fair census,” while DeSantis added, “We would love for them to redo the census for ’26.”

The Census Bureau currently includes illegal immigrants in its count, impacting how congressional seats are apportioned nationwide. Under a forthcoming bill from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Bureau would be required to conduct a new census counting only U.S. citizens, followed by immediate redistricting in all states using the revised count.

“My bill will require the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a new census immediately upon enactment of the bill,” Greene posted on X, adding it will ensure states redistrict based on citizens only. Trump said the plan is “captivating the country” and predicted it will pass, calling it necessary for “fair” representation.

The push comes as border security and illegal immigration remain top concerns for voters, with the Trump administration taking aggressive steps to limit the influence of illegal immigrants on federal funding and congressional seats. During the last census under Biden, Democrats successfully blocked citizenship questions from being included, a move critics say inflated blue state numbers.

If implemented, the move could cost states like California multiple House seats while strengthening Republican-leaning states that have seen population growth but lack additional representation due to the inclusion of non-citizens in blue states.

The push for a redo also aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to secure election integrity measures ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections, seeking to eliminate loopholes that allow non-citizens to sway U.S. politics indirectly.

As the bill moves forward, expect a fierce legal battle from Democrats, who argue that counting illegal immigrants has been standard practice for decades. Republicans counter that the policy dilutes the votes of American citizens while giving unfair advantage to sanctuary states.

With Trump, DeSantis, and Greene aligned on the plan, the push to redo the census could become a central fight leading into the 2026 midterms, setting the stage for a historic shift in congressional representation if successful.