President Donald Trump is urging Texas Republicans to take the rare step of redrawing U.S. House district lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with an ambitious goal: carve out five new GOP-leaning seats to help the party preserve its razor-thin House majority. Trump made the remarks Tuesday, saying “Texas will be the biggest one. And that’ll be five,” following a call with Texas’ congressional delegation and a public message on Truth Social.
Gov. Greg Abbott has since added redistricting to the agenda of a 30-day special legislative session set to begin Monday - despite deep concern over recent catastrophic floods in the region.
Republican leaders calculate that demographic shifts—especially increasing Hispanic support - could allow for new GOP gains, but analysts warn the strategy could weaken existing seats, potentially backfiring.
What it means for Texans
Democratic backlash: Critics like Rep. Lloyd Doggett call it a blatant “Trump map” power grab that threatens minority representation and fair elections.
Legal hurdles ahead: Meanwhile, Texas Democrats and voting rights advocates are poised to use court challenges and federal scrutiny - even as Republicans point to successful REDMAP-style efforts as justification.
On the Hill: Washington watchers say Texas’ move could set a precedent for other GOP-led states like Ohio, where similar mid‐decade map reshuffles are already under discussion .
Bottom line: As flood recovery and inflation dominate Texas voters’ minds, the push to redraw district lines adds fresh fuel to the culture war - raising real questions about democratic norms, partisan strategy, and what’s fair representation moving into 2026.
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