Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has warned Democrats that he could remove 10 out of the 12 seats they hold in Texas if there is a nationwide fight over redrawing congressional maps.
Why This Matters
Democrats and Republicans in Texas are in a big fight. The Republican Party wants to redraw the maps for congressional districts to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives before the 2026 midterm elections.
Former President Donald Trump supports Texas Republicans in this effort. But Trump’s approval ratings are dropping, which worries Republicans about the upcoming elections. This makes the fight over the maps even more important for both parties.
What You Should Know
Abbott said in a TV interview that Democrats would lose if there was a national fight about redrawing maps. He said the states that usually vote Democratic (called blue states) have already redrawn their maps a lot, so they don’t have many changes left to make.
He explained, “Look at states like Illinois, California, New York, and Massachusetts. They already changed their maps to favor Democrats a long time ago.”
Abbott added, “If California tries to change five districts, Texas can remove 10 Democratic seats. We can do more damage because blue states have fewer Republican districts.”
Texas has 38 seats in the House. Republicans control 25, Democrats have 12, and one seat is empty.
Across the country, Republicans hold 219 House seats, Democrats have 212, and four seats are empty. Two empty seats were held by Democrats and will be decided in special elections this fall. If Democrats lose those, Republicans will get even closer to having a majority.
What Is Gerrymandering?
Both parties have often accused each other of gerrymandering. This means changing district lines to give one party an advantage by making “safe” seats where that party is almost sure to win.
Texas’s plan to redraw districts has started a bigger fight between blue and red states. At least nine states, including Texas, New York, and California, are thinking about changing their maps.
California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom warned that if Texas goes ahead with their plans, California will fight back by redrawing its own maps to help Democrats.
In a letter to Trump, Newsom said the redistricting fight is dangerous and could hurt democracy.
What People Are Saying
Trump said in an interview on August 5, “I won Texas with the highest vote ever, and we deserve five more seats.”
Newsom replied in his letter to Trump, “If you don’t stop, I will lead California to redraw maps to counteract your plans.”
What Happens Next?
Experts say if Texas and other states aggressively redraw maps, there will probably be court battles. Courts have often delayed or stopped redistricting plans before if they are unfair or break voting laws.
