Austin, Texas – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has asked lawmakers to have a special session starting on July 21. The goal is to look at the state’s congressional district borders again. The move, which adds redistricting to an already busy schedule, comes as Republicans try to strengthen their narrow control in the U.S. House before the midterm elections next year.
Abbott’s announcement included more than just redistricting. He outlined other important issues for the session, such as providing financial help to people affected by recent catastrophic flooding and making early warning systems more effective across the state. But the decision to let new congressional maps in has rapidly become the most controversial issue in politics.
Texas, along with Ohio, is breaking with the practice of redistricting every ten years after the census. Texas Republicans control 25 of the state’s 38 congressional seats. They see a chance to redraw the borders in the middle of the decade and maybe gain up to five more seats. This kind of change could have effects on the whole country, especially because Democrats only need three more seats to take back the House.
The Republicans’ drive to change district lines is part of a bigger plan that involves going after Democratic incumbents in areas that are changing, especially along the southern border. New maps might hurt lawmakers like Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, whose districts have become more conservative in recent years.
Democratic leaders didn’t waste any time denouncing the effort. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, criticized Abbott’s decision, stating that Texas officials should be focused on saving lives, not gaining political influence, as the state is still dealing with flooding and disaster recovery.
“While Texans battle tragic and deadly flooding, Governor Abbott and House Republicans are plotting a mid-decade gerrymander,” Jeffries wrote on X. “They should be modernizing emergency response — not rigging maps.”
Texas is also facing legal challenges to its current congressional map, which was designed in 2021. The plaintiffs say that the map unfairly makes it harder for minority voters to have a say. At first, the U.S. Justice Department supported the lawsuit, but they eventually dropped out when the administration changed. However, advocacy groups have continued the legal fight.
Texas isn’t the only state working on mid-cycle mapping. A state legislation in Ohio that required maps to be changed passed without support from both parties. This led to another round of redistricting. Republicans in that state want to keep control of at least 12 of the state’s 15 congressional seats.
Both states have Republican-controlled legislatures, and the national House majority is up for grabs. In the next few months, the electoral picture might change a lot before voters go to the polls.
