Texas GOP Pushes New Redistricting; California Dems Counter/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Texas Republicans have launched another special session to push through President Trump-backed redistricting plans, while California Democrats prepare their own maps to offset potential GOP gains. The partisan battle spans multiple states and could influence control of Congress in 2026. Both sides frame the fight as pivotal to the future of U.S. democracy.
Redistricting Battle Quick Looks
- Texas Action: Gov. Greg Abbott calls lawmakers back for new session starting noon CDT.
- Reason: Push to pass Trump-backed congressional maps ahead of 2026 midterms.
- Democratic Response: California to unveil maps aimed at flipping 5 U.S. House seats.
- Tactics in Texas: Democratic lawmakers walked out to block redistricting vote.
- Flood Relief Dispute: GOP blames Democrats for delaying disaster legislation; Democrats say GOP tied relief to redistricting.
- National Impact: Republicans hold 219-212 House majority with 4 vacancies.
- Other States: Indiana, Missouri, and Florida considering similar GOP-led map redraws.
- California Plan: Maps would take effect only if a GOP state advances redistricting.
- Legal Challenges: Lawsuits expected in California if maps pass.
- Broader Stakes: Fight framed as a battle over democracy’s future.
Deep Look: Texas and California Lock Horns in Intensifying Redistricting Showdown
AUSTIN, Texas – August 15, 2025 — The partisan struggle over control of the U.S. House of Representatives took another dramatic turn Friday as Texas Republicans wrapped up one special legislative session without passing new congressional maps, only to immediately launch another at President Donald Trump’s urging.
Gov. Greg Abbott, a staunch Trump ally, called lawmakers back for a new session starting at noon CDT, aiming to push through a redistricting plan designed to secure Republican advantages ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Democrats Stall GOP Plan
The move comes after Texas Democrats effectively derailed the previous session by walking out nearly two weeks ago, denying Republicans the quorum needed to vote. The Democrats say they will return only after California Democrats release their own counter-mapping plan — a political tit-for-tat in a fight that has spilled across state lines.
Abbott and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows accused Democrats of abandoning critical duties, particularly legislation responding to catastrophic floods that killed more than 130 people last month.
“Delinquent House Democrats ran away from their responsibility to pass crucial legislation to benefit the lives of Texans,” Abbott said, notably avoiding direct mention of redistricting.
“We are in basically a cold Civil War,” said Rep. Eddie Morales, one of the few Democrats who stayed in Austin.
California Prepares Counteroffensive
On the other side of the country, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to release new congressional maps designed to flip five U.S. House seats to the Democrats. Speaking Thursday at what resembled a campaign rally, Newsom framed the effort as a direct response to Texas and Trump.
“We can’t stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country,” Newsom declared. “We are not bystanders in this world. We can shape the future.”
California Democrats hold 43 of the state’s 52 House seats and control both legislative chambers. Their proposal would only take effect if a Republican-led state moves forward with new maps and would remain valid through the 2030 elections, after which power would return to California’s independent redistricting commission.
A National Redistricting Arms Race
Newsom’s move marks the first official entry by another state into this mid-decade redistricting conflict. Other Democratic leaders have signaled willingness to follow suit, while Republican governors and lawmakers in Indiana, Missouri, and Florida are weighing their own map redraws.
Documents obtained by the Associated Press show Missouri has already spent $46,000 on redistricting software and training. In Indiana, Vice President JD Vance has personally lobbied for changes.
Trump has encouraged GOP-led states to act, seeing redistricting as a pathway to securing House control for the remainder of his presidency.
2026 House Control at Stake
Republicans currently hold a 219-212 House majority with four vacancies, meaning just a handful of seats could swing control. Because redistricting power in many states lies with partisan legislatures, map changes could determine which party holds the gavel in 2026.
In Los Angeles, Newsom portrayed the fight as a battle for the soul of American democracy, directly challenging Trump.
“Donald Trump, you have poked the bear, and we will punch back,” he said, stoking speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid.
Legal and Political Pushback
The California plan is already drawing threats of legal action. Christian Martinez, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, dismissed Newsom’s proposal as a self-serving power grab.
“Gavin Newsom’s latest stunt has nothing to do with Californians and everything to do with consolidating radical Democrat power,” Martinez said, accusing the governor of trampling the state constitution.
Despite the criticism, California Democrats have the votes to approve the maps without Republican support. Lawmakers are expected to formally declare the special election next week after the maps are unveiled.
The Road Ahead
With both Texas and California locked in, the redistricting battle is now a coast-to-coast political chess match. Each move by one party could prompt retaliation in another state, with the ultimate outcome potentially determining control of Congress for years.
For now, Democrats in Texas remain out of state, Republicans in Austin are determined to meet Trump’s demands, and California Democrats are finalizing their counterstrike.
The next few weeks could reshape the 2026 midterms — and possibly the direction of the country.
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