Trump Targets 100-Seat GOP Majority: Redistricting & Voting Changes/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump outlined his sweeping redistricting and voting reform agenda, claiming Republicans could gain 100 House seats if GOP states redraw maps and abolish mail-in voting. The push comes as Texas advances a new map adding five GOP seats, with other Republican-led states expected to follow. Democrats vow to respond, escalating the national redistricting war.
Key Takeaways
- Trump said GOP could gain 100 seats in Congress by redistricting and banning mail-in ballots.
- Texas House passed a new map creating five Republican-leaning districts.
- Trump urged Florida, Indiana, and other states to follow suit.
- He again labeled mail-in voting “fraudulent,” despite evidence it is safe and secure.
- Trump pledged an executive order to restrict mail voting, though experts say presidents lack constitutional authority to override states’ election systems.
- Democrats in California and other states are weighing counter-maps to boost their own seats.
- Experts warn the strategy could deepen polarization and lead to legal battles before the 2026 midterms.
Full Story
Trump’s Redistricting “Endgame”
- Aggressive GOP-led redistricting that redraws maps to favor Republicans.
- The elimination of mail-in voting nationwide.
“If we do these TWO things, we will pick up 100 more seats, and the CROOKED game of politics is over,” Trump wrote.
The bold claim comes just one day after the Texas House approved new congressional maps, carving out five additional Republican-leaning seats.
The Texas Example
On Wednesday, after weeks of heated debate and procedural delays, the Texas House voted along party lines to adopt new congressional districts. The map is expected to sail through the GOP-controlled state Senate and land on Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for signature.
Republicans argue the changes reflect population growth, while Democrats call it a partisan power grab designed to dilute Democratic and minority representation.
Trump quickly praised Texas, writing:
“Texas never lets us down. Florida, Indiana, and others are looking to do the same thing.”
Attacking Mail-In Voting
In his post, Trump said the redistricting push was only “half the battle,” insisting that the “bigger prize” is stopping mail-in ballots.
He called mail voting “a total fraud that has no bounds” and pledged to sign an executive order to ‘restore honesty’ to elections ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Election experts immediately pushed back. Under the Constitution, states control election rules, including whether to allow early or mail-in voting. Several states — notably Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah — conduct most of their elections by mail and have found the system secure and efficient.
Nonpartisan studies and state audits consistently show that voter fraud is extremely rare.
A Familiar Battle Line
Trump’s renewed attack on mail-in voting comes shortly after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he reportedly raised concerns about U.S. election “integrity.”
It also echoes his false claims about widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which courts and his own Justice Department rejected.
Democratic Countermoves
Democrats are not standing still. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are preparing their own aggressive remap that could create as many as five additional Democratic-leaning districts.
Former President Barack Obama endorsed the move this week, calling it a “necessary counterbalance” to GOP maneuvers in Texas and elsewhere.
Other blue states, including Maryland and Illinois, are exploring legal and legislative options to redraw maps, though many Democratic-controlled states face stricter independent redistricting commissions that limit gerrymandering.
The Bigger Picture: A Battle for the House
Currently, Republicans hold the U.S. House by a slim three-seat margin. Both parties see redistricting as a decisive factor in whether Trump’s GOP can expand its majority in 2026 or if Democrats can claw back control.
Legal experts predict a wave of lawsuits as new maps in Texas and other states are challenged on the grounds of violating the Voting Rights Act or diluting minority representation.
Meanwhile, voting rights advocates warn that Trump’s rhetoric against mail-in ballots could erode public trust in elections.
Bottom Line
Trump’s latest remarks highlight how redistricting battles and voting access debates are set to define the 2026 midterms. With Republicans in states like Texas leading the charge — and Democrats scrambling to respond — the future of Congress may hinge less on swing voters than on how district lines are drawn and ballots are cast.
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