Abbott instructs state lawmakers to take up congressional map redistricting
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session for state lawmakers to focus on redrawing the state’s congressional maps, which currently favor Republicans with a 25-12 advantage over Democrats. This redistricting effort comes amid concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump administration about the racial composition of several Democrat-held districts. The biden Justice Department had previously sued Texas over the 2021 maps for allegedly diluting Hispanic and black voters’ influence but later dropped the case. Abbott’s move has sparked criticism from Democrats, who accuse him of engaging in political gamesmanship during a time when the state is dealing with deadly flooding and other pressing issues. Some Republicans have also expressed caution about the risks involved in redrawing districts middecade, a process not undertaken sence 2003.
Abbott instructs state lawmakers to take up congressional map redistricting in Texas special session
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) said the Texas legislature would concentrate on redrawing the state’s congressional maps, which heavily favor Republicans.
The governor called a special session for state lawmakers to address the matter, among others, including the deadly flooding in central Texas. The Trump White House pushed the state to redraw its maps middecade, hoping that Republicans could see a more favorable House map in the 2026 midterm elections and keep their slim majority.
Republicans have a 25-12 advantage over Democrats in the Texas House delegation. Some state House Republicans have expressed concern that redrawing the maps for Texas House seats to make Democratic districts turn Republican by adding reliably GOP voters from neighboring red districts could end up backfiring, according to the New York Times.
One Texas Republican lawmaker told Politico, “This is a political play fraught with tons of land mines that the Texas [legislature] and governor would never do but for requests from outside.”
Abbott said in a proclamation that lawmakers should take up the issue “in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.” The Trump Justice Department raised concerns over the racial demographics of four left-leaning seats in the state. Those are represented by Democratic Reps. Al Green, Sylvia Garcia, and Marc Veasey, and there is a vacant seat held by former Rep. Sylvester Turner before he died earlier this year.
The Justice Department under former President Joe Biden sued over the state’s 2021 maps, which are being used, arguing that they disadvantaged Hispanic and black voters by denying them equal opportunity. The Trump administration, however, dropped the lawsuit earlier this year.
State and national Democrats criticized Abbott’s decision to redraw the maps at this time.
“It’s disgusting political gamesmanship at a time where every person in our state is reeling over what has happened to the heart of Texas,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder told the Dallas Morning News. “It’s going to suck all the oxygen out of the room at a time when Texans desperately need leadership. You should never look for leadership in Greg Abbott. He’s a total clown.”
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DNC Chairman Ken Martin said, “Governor Abbott’s full attention should be focused on flood rescue and recovery efforts. Instead, he’s using this tragic moment to plot a gerrymandering scheme while families are still reeling from a devastating disaster,” adding, “Republicans have already gone all-in on taking away healthcare, taking away food, and raising costs on families. Now, they want to disenfranchise Texas voters during a dire emergency. This is despicable and needs to be called out.”
Texas has not redrawn its maps middecade since 2003, a move that prompted a walkout from state Senate Democrats. Republicans prevailed in their effort, however, and gained a majority in the state legislature that they have held since.
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