Trump, Abbott Push Unusual Texas Redistricting Plan

President Donald Trump is pressuring Texas Republicans to redraw the state's congressional map in a special legislative session, aiming to secure up to five new GOP-leaning House seats before the 2026 midterms. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has formally placed redistricting on the special session agenda, a rare step since the state's maps were already redrawn after the 2020 census without any legal requirement for changes. Democrats and voting rights advocates have condemned the move as a power grab that could violate the Voting Rights Act and diminish minority representation, warning of major legal battles. Trump has signaled he would challenge any retaliatory redistricting by Democrats in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom is considering returning redistricting authority to the legislature if Texas proceeds. Critics say aggressive gerrymandering could weaken existing Republican seats and invite Democratic countermeasures. The dispute has reignited national debates over partisan redistricting and the future of fair representation in U.S. elections.