Texas Republicans Press Redistricting Amid Democratic Walkout, DOJ Challenges

Texas Republicans, led by Governor Greg Abbott and backed by President Donald Trump, are pushing a controversial mid-decade redistricting effort aimed at gaining five additional congressional seats to maintain their narrow House majority in the 2026 midterms. The plan targets several majority Black and Latino districts, which critics argue dilutes the voting power of these communities despite Republican claims that the map creates Latino opportunity districts. Over 50 Texas Democrats have fled the state to break quorum and block the vote, prompting Abbott to seek their removal and escalating tensions. This redistricting effort defies the traditional 10-year cycle tied to the census and reflects a broader national trend of using redistricting as a partisan tool to entrench power. Legal and civil rights advocates warn the plan undermines democracy and racial equity, especially after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, enabling such partisan and racial gerrymandering. The dispute highlights the demographic shifts in Texas and the high stakes for political control during President Trump's current administration.