Texas House Republicans made a blatant move to gerrymander redistricting maps and weaken the voting power of communities of color. In-state Democrats quickly rebelled against the absurdity. Now New York and others are joining the fight.
The U.S Constitution dictates that redistricting happens after the decennial census process so that voting lines can accurately reflect populations, allocate funds, and have proper representation in government.
“Democrats in the Texas state legislature have righteously refused to vote on a gerrymandered congressional map that is designed to rig the midterm elections for House Republicans,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a statement. “The courage, conviction and character Texas Democrats are displaying is the embodiment of good trouble as we collectively push back against the extremism Donald Trump has unleashed on the American people. We have their backs.”
Last month, President Donald Trump demanded that Republicans produce five GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas ahead of the 2026 midterms by redrawing the state’s redistricting maps — outside of the Census. This is likely because he’s trying to avoid losing the Republican majority of the House during his presidency.
The special committee hearing on redistricting kicked off on Aug. 1 with the support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Trump allies on the committee put forth a draft congressional map in line with his request that carved up Black and Brown communities in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. They voted it through, despite protests from Dems that the drafted map was downright unconstitutional.
“Let’s be absolutely clear: Greg Abbott only called this sham special session to attack Texans’ rights and rig congressional maps to stave off Republicans’ looming defeat in the midterms,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin in a statement.
The new map creates 24 districts that would be majority white, two more than the current map. Republicans reasoned that the map would create one new majority-Hispanic district and two new majority-Black districts. But others firmly disagree.
Texas State Rep. James Talarico is a Democrat, progressive, and currently studying at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He and dozens of other state lawmakers chose to “break quorum” Aug. 4, literally fleeing the state to Illinois. Abbott has made threats about removing the members who left and slapping them with hefty fines. He also issued civil warrants for their arrests. They were essentially given asylum by Governor JB Pritzker.
“We are participating in a long American tradition of speaking up, of standing up to bullies, of civil disobedience, [and] of good trouble. And it’s our deep honor to do it,” said Talarico in a virtual conversation with the Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund on Aug. 5. He tuned in from a nondescript hotel in order to keep his location confidential.
“They are diluting the voting power of communities of color. Of Black and Brown Texans, and growing populations in our state. They are breaking apart minority-majority districts. They are diluting their voice in the process,” Talarico said. “So this map they put out is deeply racist, and I think it’s really important that we say that.”
This political tactic only pauses the proposed map approval ahead of a full chamber vote. A partisan quorum dispute hasn’t happened in Texas since 2021, when local Dems left Texas for 38 days to protest voting restrictions. Once they returned, Republicans passed the controversial bill.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said at a recent press conference in Buffalo that she was open to restarting New York’s redistricting process before the 2030 census to counteract Republican moves in Texas.
“We are following the rules. We do redistricting every 10 years but there’s other states that are violating the rules and will try to give themselves an advantage. All I’ll say is I’m gonna look at it closely with (Representative) Hakeem Jeffries,” Hochul said.
According to the New York Constitution, a redistricting map can’t be touched until the subsequent Census unless modified by a court order. After 2020’s chaotic Census count was completed, New York State lost a congressional seat, going from 27 to 26 congress districts.
The New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC), made up of 10 bipartisan members, was then convened to redraw voting lines for Assembly, Senate and Congressional districts. Since the commission was created out of a desire to reform the process in 2014 this was basically the first time they’d had the opportunity to go through a census and redistricting.
By 2021, the IRC spectacularly failed to agree on maps and dissolved into infighting among members. The state’s Court of Appeals eventually rejected a congressional map in 2022 that seemed to favor Democrats over Republicans, claiming partisan gerrymandering.
Despite legal precedents, there’s a gaggle of New York state lawmakers on board with redrawing the maps soon.
State Sen. Solomon “Sam” Sutton said he would “fully support a measure by the New York State Senate that would respond in kind and within the constraints of the Voting Rights Act.”
“Texas is a standard-bearer for many of the most extreme policy shifts by the right. By redistricting mid-decade, while splitting Democratic voter lines of color across myriad red districts,” said James Christopher, a longtime political operative who now heads his own political consulting firm. “Governor Hochul and other Democratic leaders are doing the right and smart thing by already taking decisive actions to remain bipartisan and keep it fair at all costs.”
California Democrats are also considering redrawing their maps to lose five GOP House seats in battleground districts, according to the Associated Press.
We are living in times where it’s a survival skills necessity to be politically aware, educated and astute. Housing and the ability to stay housed is essential for survival for lower to moderate income households. Where are you able to live? This fight is global.
The black people of Texas can end “Jim crow” Texas in 48 hours. Simply, black mothers /fathers/ grandparents Do not allow their sons to play college football and basketball in the state of Texas! Your boy can still get a scholarship in another state. The greed of the other colleges will help you. Black boys bring billions to the Texas governor and his cronies. And he still gives you Jim Crow. The lo$$ of money will end Texas Jim Crow. And the districts will not change. But the black parents must take action and send their sons to out of state schools. Otherwise you will never stop begging and complaining!