Texas lawmakers approve new GOP-leaning | Political News

The Texas Senate has given the inexperienced mild to a new, Republican-favoring congressional voting map which now awaits Governor Greg Abbott’s signature.

Former President Donald Trump has been a vocal advocate for this map, viewing it as a software to help the GOP keep its slim majority in Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. The map introduces 5 new districts that would probably lean Republican.

Governor Abbott, a fellow Republican, is anticipated to promptly signal it into law, despite Democrats’ promise to contest it in court.

This transfer by Trump and Texas’ Republican-dominated Legislature sparked state Democrats to stage a two-week walkout and ignited a flurry of redistricting efforts nationwide.

Democrats had geared up for a ultimate act of defiance, planning to prolong the Senate vote into the wee hours of the morning in a determined bid to stall passage.

State Sen. Carol Alvarado, head of the Senate Democratic caucus, revealed on social media her plan to filibuster the invoice with an prolonged speech, intending to communicate for a number of hours. However, just as she was about to start, the Senate adjourned for a prolonged dinner break.

Upon their return, Alvarado was denied the chance to filibuster as Republicans accused her of violating Senate guidelines by trying to fundraise off the upcoming filibuster.

Sen. Charles Perry deemed it “appears to be potentially unlawful, at least unethical, using state resources for a campaign purpose.”

Many have claimed that the redrawn districts infringe upon the Voting Rights Act by diminishing voters’ affect based on race.

King strongly refuted this declare, stating, “I had two goals in mind: That all maps would be legal and would be better for Republican congressional candidates in Texas.

“There is excessive risk the Republican majority might be misplaced” in the House if the map does not pass, King warned.

This standoff has also ignited a wider, state-by-state redistricting battle, with governors from both parties vowing to redraw congressional maps.

California Democrats greenlit legislation Thursday calling for a special election in November for residents to vote on a redrawn congressional map designed to bolster Democrats’ chances of securing five more House seats next year. Gov. Gavin Newsom promptly signed it.

“This will not be one thing six weeks in the past that I ever imagined that I’d be doing,” Newsom admitted. “This is a response to an assault on our democracy in Texas.”

California‘s map requires voter approval because, unlike in Texas, a nonpartisan commission typically draws the map to sidestep the kind of political skirmish currently unfolding.

Nationally, the partisan composition of current districts places Democrats just three seats away from a majority. Historically, the sitting president’s party tends to lose seats during midterm elections.

The Texas redraw is already transforming the 2026 race, with Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the senior member of the state’s congressional delegation, announcing Thursday that he won’t pursue reelection to his Austin-based seat should the new map be implemented. Under the proposed map, Doggett’s district would merge with that of another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Greg Casar.

The president has encouraged other Republican-led states, including Indiana and Missouri to similarly revise their maps to create more competitive GOP seats. Ohio Republicans were also previously scheduled to modify their maps for increased partisan advantage.

“Republicans usually are not completed in the United States,” Abbott said.

Redistricting historically occurs once per decade, proper after a census. While sure states impose their own restrictions, no federal barrier prevents a state from redrawing districts mid-decade.