Texas Approves GOP-Backed Redistricting Map
Texas Republicans have pushed through a new congressional map that gives the GOP five more seats in the U.S. House, after a tense two-week standoff in which Democrats fled the state to stall the vote. The maps were redrawn at the urging of former President Donald Trump, who called it a “Big WIN for Great State of Texas!!!” Supporters say the changes improve political performance, while critics insist the lines were crafted to weaken the power of minority voters.
Democrats argued the new map was rushed without public input and designed to secure Trump’s influence. “This is not democracy, this is authoritarianism in real time,” said Democratic Rep. John Bucy. Colleague Ann Johnson added, “The root of all of this is around racism and power. A pure power grab.” Republicans, however, countered that Democrats abandoned their duties when they left for nearly three weeks. “Don’t come into this body and say we didn’t include you,” said GOP legislator Todd Hunter.
The battle over Texas’ new map has already had effects across the country. California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to move ahead with his own plan to add Democratic-leaning districts, writing on X: “It’s on, Texas.” Other states, including Florida, Ohio, New York, and Missouri, are also weighing new maps, fueling a wave of partisan redistricting fights across the country.
Lawsuits are expected as Democrats and civil rights groups accuse Texas Republicans of disenfranchising Latino, Black, and Asian communities. Democratic Rep. Gene Wu warned colleagues: “What Texas looks like — this process, this division, this partisanship… If you do not stand up today and push back, the American dream will be dead and our democracy will fall.”
