Trump Eyes Redistricting Move To Add 5 More GOP Seats In Texas Before 2026[update]

[Elderberry]

Great America News by Eric Daugherty 7/16/2025

New districts could cement GOP control for years to come…

President Donald Trump is pushing Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional map in a bid to add five new GOP-friendly U.S. House seats ahead of the next year’s midterms, according to Punchbowl News and other outlets.

Texas currently holds 38 House seats — 25 Republican, 13 Democrat. To carve out more red territory, state lawmakers would need to undertake a mid-decade redistricting effort, something rarely attempted. GOP leaders plan to tackle it during a special legislative session starting July 21.

Critics have called the move a blatant power grab, warning it could dilute Black and Latino voting strength and open the door to racial gerrymandering lawsuits. Some Republicans agree the plan is a legal and political gamble, potentially weakening solid red seats by spreading GOP voters too thin.

More: https://greatamericanewsdesk.com/featured/trump-eyes-redistricting-move-to-add-5-more-gop-seats-in-texas-before-2026/phouck/2025/07/

[bilo]

Texas Republicans just dropped a political nuke.

Texas GOP lawmakers released a new congressional redistricting map that could net Republicans five additional House seats — and the left is already foaming at the mouth.

The new map, designed with laser precision and blessed by President Donald Trump himself, targets vulnerable Democrat strongholds across the Lone Star State and redraws them in favor of red-blooded American patriots.

...President Trump announced the push Tuesday, stating, “There could be some other states we’re going to get another three, or four, or five in addition. Texas would be the biggest one… Just a simple redrawing we pick up five seats.”

The push is already receiving strong backing from Gov. Greg Abbott and national GOP leadership, with reports from POLITICO confirming that even the White House and Department of Justice are supporting the effort. A special legislative session is set to kick off next Monday in Austin to move the plan forward.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/07/texas-republicans-release-new-congressional-map-that-could/

[bilo]

Maybe the Pubs are learning how to fight!

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I like it.

Glad Louie Gohmert is retired now as his spot in district 1 would have been gerrymandered out.

His replacement is not.

[mystery-ak]

Texas Has Released Its New Congressional Map, and It's a Bloodbath for Democrats
By Bonchie | 12:41 PM on July 30, 2025

Republicans may have finally learned how to fight fire with fire. In an unexpected move, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) called a special session in mid-July to redraw his state's congressional map. The plan? To nuke the Democrats' dominance in several key areas, garnering five new seats. That would provide the GOP with a significant boost going into the 2026 midterms.

With that said, the new map has now been released, and it's a bloodbath for Democrats.

    Texas Republicans unveiled a new congressional map on Wednesday that would provide their party with five new red-leaning districts, a plan that — if enacted — could provide a boost to the party as it tries to cling to control of the House.

    The redraw would significantly benefit Republicans by making districts held by Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, who both represent heavily-Latino areas of the Rio Grande Valley, redder, and make some Democratic-controlled districts even bluer in an attempt to create GOP-leaning districts elsewhere. The proposed map would also put a number of Republican and Democratic incumbents in the same district.

more
https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/07/30/texas-has-released-its-new-congressional-map-and-its-a-bloodbath-for-democrats-n2192263

[Mod2]

Moved to Texas category.

[mystery-ak]

Padilla: ‘Only Hope’ for GOP Is ‘Rig the Election’

On Thursday’s broadcast of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) discussed new congressional maps in Texas and stated that the Republican Party’s “only hope at holding on to power through the midterms” is “to rig the election before it it starts.”

Padilla said, “[T]here’s so much that’s wrong with this effort to get Texas to redistrict and squeeze out some additional Republican seats because that’s what Donald Trump wants. But starting with how they’re going about it, Donald Trump calling for it from the grounds of the White House and engaging White House officials, top Department of Justice officials to coordinate with Texas Republican officials in this effort. … [T]he President has made it very clear. He’s not even trying to hide it. The purpose for redistricting in Texas is to create additional Republican seats. So, that’s as partisan as it gets, number one.”

more
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/07/31/padilla-only-hope-for-gop-is-rig-the-election/

[corbe]

   No where mentioned is the dems run to OK or NM to prevent the reps from having a quorum.

[Hoodat]

   No where mentioned is the dems run to OK or NM to prevent the reps from having a quorum.

Also not mentioned is that Democrats have already done this in their States.

New Jersey - 54% Democrat  |  75% of Congressional seats
California  -  62% Democrat  |  83% of Congressional seats
Illinois   -   56% Democrat    |  83% of Congressional seats
New York  -  56% Democrat   |  73% of Congressional seats
Washington - 61% Democrat |  80% of Congressional seats

[cato potatoe]

Gavin Newsom is threatening to redistrict California if Texas follows through.  It would require a special election this November to temporarily undo their redistricting commission. 

[240B]

Red State Officially Moves Forward With Redistricting

Trending Politics News
By Cullen McCue
August 2, 2025

A Texas House panel on Saturday advanced a draft congressional map aimed at adding five new Republican-leaning districts ahead of next year’s pivotal midterm elections.

The legislature’s redistricting committee approved the map along party lines in a 12-6 vote after spending much of the day Friday hearing testimony from U.S. House Democrats from Texas and members of the public. With the matter out of committee, redistricting could be considered for a floor vote as early as Tuesday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced last month that the Texas legislature’s special session would include a discussion on redistricting. The proposed maps will draw out three Democrat leaning districts entirely and push two additional districts heavily in favor of Republicans, largely by diluting Democrat voting blocs in the major metro areas of Houston, San Antonio and Dallas-Forth Worth.

The redraw comes after the Trump Administration raised “serious concerns” about the legality of four congressional districts in the Lonestar State. “As stated below, Congressional Districts TX-09, TX-18, TX-29 and TX-33 currently constitute unconstitutional ‘coalition districts’ and we urge the State of Texas to rectify these race-based considerations from these specific districts,” the DOJ’s civil rights division wrote in a letter addressed to Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/just-in-red-state-officially-moves-forward-with-redistricting-cmc/

[mystery-ak]

 Democrats contemplate walkout in Texas
by Julia Mueller - 08/03/25 6:00 AM ET

Democratic legislators in Texas could flee the state to prevent the GOP from approving new maps that could expand Republicans’ congressional majority.

Texas and national Democrats have vowed to fight back while blasting the GOP plans, which could give Republicans five more seats, as discriminatory.

Visiting with Democratic state lawmakers in Austin, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) vowed Thursday that “all options” should be on the table to stop the GOP plan.

But because Democrats are a minority in the state Legislature, they have few options to stop the GOP and face an uphill battle legally and politically.

One very real option would be to seek to deny the quorum necessary to keep the Texas state House and Senate functioning, something Democrats might have the numbers to accomplish.

“Democrats don’t have many arrows left in their quiver. There simply aren’t a lot of things they can do to be able to challenge these maps in the near term,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

A quorum break could be the “nuclear option,” Rottinghaus said, “because most members don’t want to do it that way. They want to stay and fight.”

“But the problem is that they simply don’t have a lot of tools legislatively, or in terms of their total numbers to stop or slow things here in Austin.”

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5433040-texas-democrats-fight-gop-maps/

[mystery-ak]

Texas GOP's new map would move Rep. Crockett’s home out of her district, slash Dem seats
Crockett said she was asked to verify her address before Republicans unveiled the congressional redistricting proposal
By Amanda Macias Fox News
Published August 3, 2025 12:12pm EDT

A gerrymandered map proposed by the Texas GOP would kick firebrand Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett out of her own district and likely add more House seats to the Lone Star's Republican delegation.

Last week, Texas House Republicans introduced a redistricting proposal that could net five new GOP seats. The draft congressional map, which is likely to change before approval by both state legislative chambers, aims to redraw district lines to include more Republican-leaning areas in Democratic strongholds like Dallas and Houston.

Crockett, who serves Texas’ 30th Congressional District, which represents a large part of Dallas, has called the redistricting effort "a power grab to silence voters."

She has claimed that before Republicans unveiled the map, she was asked to verify her address alongside other incumbent Democratic members of Congress.

The rare mid-decade redistricting effort may also force some Democratic lawmakers into primary battles against fellow incumbents as seats become more limited.

For example, if the map were adopted, Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who currently represents Texas’ 37th Congressional District in the Austin area, would be placed in the same district as Rep. Greg Casar, who serves the neighboring 35th District, also anchored in Austin.

Last week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called fighting the proposed map an "all-hands-on-deck moment."

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-texas-map-draws-rep-crocketts-home-out-her-district-cuts-democratic-seat-count

[Free Vulcan]

Also not mentioned is that Democrats have already done this in their States.

New Jersey - 54% Democrat  |  75% of Congressional seats
California  -  62% Democrat  |  83% of Congressional seats
Illinois   -   56% Democrat    |  83% of Congressional seats
New York  -  56% Democrat   |  73% of Congressional seats
Washington - 61% Democrat |  80% of Congressional seats

Excellent point. Wonder how much they can actually expand things that are already expanded.

[Cyber Liberty]

   No where mentioned is the dems run to OK or NM to prevent the reps from having a quorum.

I've heard talk on X they plan on doing that very thing.  If I see it again I'll post a link.

[Cyber Liberty]

Gavin Newsom is threatening to redistrict California if Texas follows through.  It would require a special election this November to temporarily undo their redistricting commission.

Also not mentioned is that Democrats have already done this in their States.

New Jersey - 54% Democrat  |  75% of Congressional seats
California  -  62% Democrat  |  83% of Congressional seats
Illinois   -   56% Democrat    |  83% of Congressional seats
New York  -  56% Democrat   |  73% of Congressional seats
Washington - 61% Democrat |  80% of Congressional seats

You mean Gerrymandering even more?

[Cyber Liberty]

   No where mentioned is the dems run to OK or NM to prevent the reps from having a quorum.

I've heard talk on X they plan on doing that very thing.  If I see it again I'll post a link.

@corbe

Here is a link: 

https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1952103385454293021

[cato potatoe]

You mean Gerrymandering even more?

Yes.  They could carve out several more seats.  Most of the GOP enclaves are marginal and surrounded.  They might be left with one seat in interior SD/Riverside, one in the Central Valley, and a couple in the far north. 

[Cyber Liberty]

Yes.  They could carve out several more seats.  Most of the GOP enclaves are marginal and surrounded.  They might be left with one seat in interior SD/Riverside, one in the Central Valley, and a couple in the far north.

If read the quote from @Hoodat I posted, it's unlikely those Congressional seats can be "created" from any of those States he listed.   

Hoodat!

[IsailedawayfromFR]

   No where mentioned is the dems run to OK or NM to prevent the reps from having a quorum.

Illinois appears to be their favorite hideout now.

[Cyber Liberty]

Illinois appears to be their favorite hideout now.

They are certainly planning on that option.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Democrats flee Texas to block Republican redistricting map backed by Trump
Democratic state lawmakers have fled Texas in an attempt to stop a vote on a new congressional map that would heavily favour Republicans.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz601p6jv8vo

[Cyber Liberty]

Democrats flee Texas to block Republican redistricting map backed by Trump
Democratic state lawmakers have fled Texas in an attempt to stop a vote on a new congressional map that would heavily favour Republicans.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz601p6jv8vo

Thanks for posting this!  The Tweet I posted above was pulled by X for some reason....

[Bigun]

I've heard talk on X they plan on doing that very thing.  If I see it again I'll post a link.

They've gone to Chicago this time and why not? They suffered no penalties for their previous excursions.

[cato potatoe]

If read the quote from @Hoodat I posted, it's unlikely those Congressional seats can be "created" from any of those States he listed.   

Washington and Illinois are probably maxxed out for the democrats.  I've seen some hideous maps California and New York posted on Twitter-X.  One of them managed to wipe out every single republican in California, and all but a few upstate in New York.  The state constitution of NY forbids mid-decade redraws, so that probably would not happen.  And I expect DeSantis or somebody else to redraw if California does. 

[txradioguy]

Illinois appears to be their favorite hideout now.

Yeah Governor Prickster coordinated with Texas Dems for them to run like cowards to his state over the weekend.


Which is ironic since Illinois gerrymandered one of its only Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives out of a job 5 years ago.

[mountaineer]

The TX dems did, in fact, flee to Chicago - some say Obama funded this little jaunt.

https://twitter.com/JohnnieMo/status/1952115072232550791

[mountaineer]

Parker Thayer
@ParkerThayer
Going to Illinois to protest gerrymandering is like going to Wisconsin to protest cheese.
5:53 PM · Aug 3, 2025

[American Girl]

Excerpt:
In a move that screams desperation and hypocrisy, more than 30 Texas Democrat lawmakers have fled the Lone Star State—again—this time to Illinois, in an attempt to block Governor Greg Abbott’s redistricting initiative by denying a quorum in the state House.


Six figures a year and multiple holidays paid per year, and yet they still can’t and refuse to go with the will of the people. The same people who voted them into office. If you’re not working for the people, you are against the people. Not doing your job, should be fired.

https://www.rightjournalism.com/breaking-texas-dems-run-to-illinois-to-deny-a-quorum-for-redistricting-abbotts-response-could-end-their-political-careers-for-good/

[Mod2]

Merged and moved to TX category

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I believe this time around, Abbott will consider these politicians unwilling to perform their duties and will appoint new legislators.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

They've gone to Chicago this time and why not? They suffered no penalties for their previous excursions.

I doubt Abbott this time around will permit them to be unscathed.  Paxton is itching to make a mark heard loud in the state.

Gov. Abbott Might Remove the 40 Fleeing Democrats from Office
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office Monday if they don’t return. Dozens of them left the state in a last-resort attempt to block redrawn U.S. House maps that President Trump wants before the 2026 midterm elections.

Abbott is taking a far more aggressive stance than the one he took in 2021. He swiftly warning Democrats that he will seek to remove them from office if they are not back when the House reconvenes Monday afternoon. Abbott cited a non-binding 2021 legal opinion issued by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, which suggested a court could determine that a legislator had forfeited their office.
https://www.independentsentinel.com/gov-abbott-might-remove-the-40-fleeing-democrats-from-office/

[mountaineer]

TaraBull
@TaraBull808
🚨BREAKING: Texas Governor Abbott has issued a warning that if House Democrats do not return by 3 PM tomorrow, he will move to declare their seats vacant and replace them
1:59 AM · Aug 4, 2025

More from FOX: https://t.co/Ig3iarCKVX

[mystery-ak]

Crockett: ‘I Do Not Currently Reside in My District’ Based on GOP-Proposed Maps

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) complained that the Republican-proposed Texas redistricting maps would draw her out of her own district, calling the plan a “hot mess.”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/08/03/crockett-not-currently-reside-district-based-gop-proposed-maps/

[mystery-ak]

 

 Pritzker says Texas Democrats who fled state will be protected amid arrest threats
by Caroline Vakil - 08/03/25 10:53 PM ET

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said on Sunday that the state would protect Texas Democrats who fled to the Prairie State over GOP efforts to redraw the Lone Star State’s congressional maps.

“They’re here in Illinois. We’re going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that — ’cause we know they’re doing the right thing, we know that they’re following the law,” Pritzker told reporters at a press conference Sunday night held alongside the Texas state lawmakers.

“It’s Ken Paxton who doesn’t follow the law. It’s the leaders of Texas who are attempting not to follow the law,” he continued. “They’re the ones that need to be held accountable.”

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/5434627-redistricting-battle-texas-illinois/

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

This seems to happen every few years and every time I ask why texas's quorum is so high? Usually it's above 50% for a quorum, which would make stunts like this mostly meaningless.

[txradioguy]

Crockett: ‘I Do Not Currently Reside in My District’ Based on GOP-Proposed Maps

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) complained that the Republican-proposed Texas redistricting maps would draw her out of her own district, calling the plan a “hot mess.”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/08/03/crockett-not-currently-reside-district-based-gop-proposed-maps/

Good...they are giving her the Kinzinger treatment

[Bigun]

I doubt Abbott this time around will permit them to be unscathed.  Paxton is itching to make a mark heard loud in the state.

Gov. Abbott Might Remove the 40 Fleeing Democrats from Office
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office Monday if they don’t return. Dozens of them left the state in a last-resort attempt to block redrawn U.S. House maps that President Trump wants before the 2026 midterm elections.

Abbott is taking a far more aggressive stance than the one he took in 2021. He swiftly warning Democrats that he will seek to remove them from office if they are not back when the House reconvenes Monday afternoon. Abbott cited a non-binding 2021 legal opinion issued by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, which suggested a court could determine that a legislator had forfeited their office.
https://www.independentsentinel.com/gov-abbott-might-remove-the-40-fleeing-democrats-from-office/

I hope Abbott does exactly that as Burrows will do exactly nothing IMHO.

[andy58-in-nh]

If I understand this correctly, Texas Democrats are complaining about representative government, gerrymandering and the importance of the rule of law.

Therefore, they have elected to flee their duties as state Representatives so that they might travel to the most blatantly gerrymandered and corrupt state in the nation. 

Do I have that right?

[txradioguy]

If I understand this correctly, Texas Democrats are complaining about representative government, gerrymandering and the importance of the rule of law.

Therefore, they have elected to flee their duties as state Representatives so that they might travel to the most blatantly gerrymandered and corrupt state in the nation. 

Do I have that right?

That's exactly what they did

[txradioguy]

Article III, Section 13 is what Abbott will use to remove them if they fail to make the 3pm deadline.

He's also threatening potential felony charges if any of the Yellow 50 tries "soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules"

[andy58-in-nh]

That's exactly what they did

@txradioguy

Thank you.

I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't unfairly characterizing what appears to be the latest in an ongoing series of state and national behaviors on the part of the Democrats.

Imagine a Venn diagram that displays the intersection of studied ignorance, proud immorality, and unfocused rage.

The reality of such a "center" perhaps explains why the Democrats are presently hurtling, unencumbered by reason or history toward the radical Left.   

[Bigun]

Article III, Section 13 is what Abbott will use to remove them if they fail to make the 3pm deadline.

He's also threatening potential felony charges if any of the Yellow 50 tries "soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules"

 

[Bigun]

@txradioguy

Thank you.

I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't unfairly characterizing what appears to be the latest in an ongoing series of state and national behaviors on the part of the Democrats.

Imagine a Venn diagram that displays the intersection of studied ignorance, proud immorality, and unfocused rage.

The reality of such a "center" perhaps explains why the Democrats are presently hurtling, unencumbered by reason or history toward the radical Left.   

The Dems may not have thought this through this time. @andy58-in-nh

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/pdf/CN.3/CN.3.13.pdf

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/MaryEliseCos/status/1952199192807346490

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/MaryEliseCos/status/1952199192807346490

[American Girl]

Excerpt:
In a political stunt dripping with hypocrisy and privilege, over 30 Texas Democrats have fled the state—again—to block redistricting efforts led by Gov. Greg Abbott. But this time, they didn’t just skip town. They chartered a $47 million Embraer ERJ-170 luxury jet



Here’s your bribery and quid pro quo, Greg Abbott


Who’s paying Texas Democrats to break the law?

https://defiantamerica.com/texas-dems-flee-in-47m-private-jet-while-flood-victims-beg-for-help-we-tracked-the-cost-and-its-sickening/

[mountaineer]

@amuse
@amuse
OBSTRUCTION: Texas House Democrats that refuse to return to work by 3PM are considered to have vacated their seats forcing the governor to call for special elections in mid-September. Governor Abbott also, warned House Democrats that they could face bribery charges in addition to losing their jobs. Sadly, if the Democrats don't get back to work and special elections are called the House will be shut down until they can be replaced blocking all flood relief bills current before the legislature.
9:38 AM · Aug 4, 2025

Bonchie
@bonchieredstate
Legislators can’t accept basketball tickets but they can accept private jets, meals, and hotels to flee to Illinois to break the law and abandon their duties?
Doesn’t sound right. Texas needs to seriously look at the legality of this.
9:01 AM · Aug 4, 2025

Bonchie
@bonchieredstate
Jeffries and Pritzker came up with and organized the plan for TX Democrats to go to Illinois.
That’s been reported throughout the press. Jeffries even flew to Austin and called an emergency meeting early on. Now his donors are funding this.
Sure seems like a bribe to me.
8:41 AM · Aug 4, 2025

Bonchie
@bonchieredstate
No chance these TX Democrats go if they had to foot the bill.
8:43 AM · Aug 4, 2025

[Mod2]

Topics merged

[Bigun]

Much shorter statement by Abbott;