The
Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives passed Wednesday a redrawn congressional map that creates up to five new winnable GOP seats in Congress, and further deepens a national redistricting battle between states.
Republicans want to make it
easier for the GOP to hold on to
its slim U.S. House majority in the 2026 midterm elections, so that Democrats have little ability to thwart President
Donald 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.
In response,
California’s Legislature is poised to approve new maps adding more Democratic-friendly seats later this week, in a move
former President Barack Obama has applauded.
Texas Democratic lawmakers delayed the vote for 15 days by leaving the state in protest, depriving the House of enough members to do business. With House approval, the maps now need to be approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott before they become official.