Texas Republicans passed a controversial Trump-backed congressional redistricting bill designed to grant the state five more GOP seats in the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms
Texas Republicans passed a controversial congressional redistricting bill backed by President Donald Trump despite intense backlash and protest from Democrats.
The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives passed the measure on Wednesday, which will see congressional maps redrawn to create up to five new winnable GOP seats in the U.S. House.
It further deepened a national redistricting battle between states, however, sparking short but scathing responses from top Democrats across the nation.
Republicans were hoping to make it easier for the GOP to hold on to its slim U.S. House majority come 2026, when the midterm elections will take place. They want Democrats to have little ability to thwart Trump’s agenda.
Trump directed Texas and other conservative-controlled states to put forth rare mid-decade redistricting plans as Republicans anticipate a difficult midterm election.
Throughout history, the party in control of the White House often loses a congressional majority during the midterms, making accomplishing the president’s agenda difficult for the last two years of their term.
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California’s Legislature is already poised to approve new maps of its own that would add more Democratic seats later in the week as a response to Texas’ move. Former President Barack Obama applauded the move by California.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, penned a short and blunt message on his official X account, writing, “Its on, Texas.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, posted a similar message: “Game on.” There haven’t yet been plans drafted by New York Democrats to pass redistricting legislation.
Texas Democrats leave state for weeks to protest map vote
Texas Democratic lawmakers delayed the vote on the redistricted maps by 15 days by leaving the state in protest, depriving the House of a quorum that would have allowed it to do business.
When they finally returned this week and voted on Wednesday, the bill passed easily in an 88-52 vote straight down party lines. The measure is now expected to head to the state Senate for another approval before it lands on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk something that’s expected to take place later this week. The state Senate already passed similar maps on Sunday.
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Abbott said he’ll sign the law the minute it lands on his desk. To get the Democrats to return and vote, he had to put escalating pressure on them, threatening to arrest them and force them out of their elected seats.
“While Democrats shirked their duty, in futility, and ran away to other states, Republicans stayed the course, stayed at work and stayed true to Texas,” he said.
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