Texas map would add five safe Republican seats. What it means for the midterms.
The GOP-led state legislature, which has convened in a special session to draft the plans and address this summer's deadly flooding in the state, released the preliminary maps after days of contentious hearings. Their proposal set off a broader partisan dispute, with some Democratic-controlled states threatening to retaliate by adding more seats for their party.
Texas Republicans have sought to portray their efforts as typical. Democrats in the state and beyond have decried the unusual mid-decade redistricting attempt as a partisan power grab to tilt the midterm elections so the GOP can hang onto its control of Congress. Republicans now have a 219-212 House majority with four vacancies.
The redrawing of maps typically takes place after the U.S. Census Bureau finishes its once-a-decade population count and can dramatically alter the balance of power between political parties. Rules for redrawing the lines vary by state, and in Texas legislators control the process.
Here's what to know about the proposed maps in Texas and what comes next:
The maps released Wednesday would tilt five districts now held by Democrats toward Republicans. That would give Republicans a potential backstop for keeping control of the House even if they perform poorly elsewhere in the midterm elections.
Under the current maps, Republicans hold 25 of the state's 38 congressional districts. Under the new plan, they would likely win 30 seats in the state. Trump won all 30 of the proposed districts by 10 points or more last year, making it extremely difficult for Democrats to win any of them.
Trump's Justice Department sought to ramp up pressure this month to draw new maps by alleging that Texas lawmakers ran afoul of the Constitution by considering race when they drew some of the existing districts. But in their latest proposal Texas Republicans mostly targeted other districts, not the ones the Justice Department cited.
Publicly, Texas Republican lawmakers have downplayed their plans, saying they are simply responding to a request from Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) to reconsider the maps they drew after the 2020 census. After that census, Republicans largely played it safe and tried to protect incumbents.
Democrats in Texas have maligned the GOP move as a power grab that they contend violates the Voting Rights Act. 'Know this — that Trump will not stop in Texas,' said Rep. Marc Veasey. 'He will go after minority voters across the nation. But Democrats will use every tool in our arsenal. We will fight to stop this rig-districting and protect the voices of millions.'
Despite their promises to fight, Texas Democrats have little power to stop the redistricting efforts because Republicans control both legislative chambers. They have indicated they are preparing to wage legal challenges. Some Democrats have suggested they may leave the state in protest and prevent Republicans from having the quorum they need to pass the legislation. They risk fines and arrest if they take that step.
Republicans are defending a slim majority in next year's elections. Historical trends and Trump's low approval rating suggest the midterms could be challenging for the GOP, and any redrawing of maps in a way that favors one side could have far-reaching impacts. Republicans control both chambers of Congress and losing either one could be a major impediment to Trump's legislative agenda.
Republicans have only a couple weeks to act because special sessions in Texas last just 30 days. If they don't approve the maps in time because of a Democratic walkout or another reason, Abbott could call a new special session and restart the 30-day clock.
Democratic-controlled states such as California, Illinois and New York are exploring options to retaliate by redrawing their own lines to give their party more House seats if Texas approves new maps.
Before the proposed maps were released, California Gov. Gavin Newsom described the Texas GOP's redistricting efforts as 'a five-alarm fire for democracy' and said he was considering asking California voters to change the state's procedures for drawing the congressional maps to give Democrats greater sway in Washington. Other Democratic governors such as JB Pritzker of Illinois — who like Newsom is weighing a run for the White House in 2028 — have said they are open to launching a process to redraw congressional boundaries in their states.
Lenny Bronner and Marianna Sotomayor contributed to this report.
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