A new redrawn political map, endorsed by President Donald Trump, is designed to secure a greater number of safe seats for Republicans in upcoming federal elections. This contentious but lawful practice, known as gerrymandering, is an attempt to help Republicans maintain their narrow control of the US House of Representatives during next year’s midterm elections.
Trump has publicly stated that he anticipates the effort will result in the addition of up to five new Republican members in the House. The controversy has been so intense that, according to the Texas Tribune, the Texas House approved a mostly symbolic motion to issue arrest warrants for over 50 legislators who left the state to prevent a vote. These warrants, however, are only enforceable within Texas, meaning the missing lawmakers would only be subject to arrest upon their return.
Gerrymandering—the redrawing of voting districts to favor one political party—is not uncommon in the US, but the Texas plan appears to push the boundaries of the practice by effectively eliminating five seats currently held by Democrats. Leading Texas Democrat Gene Wu described the process as “corrupt.” While states are required to redistrict every ten years based on the US Census, the current Texas map was passed only four years ago.
In response to the actions in Texas, Democratic-led New York and California are now considering their own redistricting measures to target Republican-held areas. Unlike Texas, these states have previously implemented legal constraints against such partisan practices, but their leaders have signaled they are ready to push back. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has taken a particularly strong stance, declaring, “We are at war,” as she welcomed some of the Texas legislators to her state. All 435 seats in the US House will be contested in the 2026 midterms, with Republicans currently holding a slim majority.
