Introduction to the New Congressional Map
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed into law a new congressional map that led to a two-week quorum break from dozens of House Democrats, and now that it’s in effect could help Republicans maintain control of Congress following next year’s midterm elections. “Texas is now more red in the United States Congress,” Abbott said in a video posted on social media of him signing the measure. The governor did not hold a public bill signing.
Background of the Congressional Map
President Donald Trump asked the Texas Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts in order to minimize the risk of Republicans losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 elections. House Bill 4, which contains the map, could net five additional seats in Texas for the GOP.
Reaction to the New Map
The next battleground for the map is likely to be in federal court after a judge set aside time in October to consider an injunction in an El Paso courtroom. Abbott called lawmakers back to the Capitol last month for the first of two special sessions to pass the new congressional map and legislation on recovery efforts and safety regulations following catastrophic floods in the Hill Country over July 4 weekend.
Democratic Outrage and the Quorum Break
Democratic state lawmakers were outraged when the map was introduced late last month, arguing it was racist and would dilute the power of nonwhite voters in Texas. Republicans defended the map, arguing the map was drawn strictly to help the GOP gain seats in Congress. In an effort to stop the map from passing, more than 50 House Democrats fled the state earlier this month to deny the Texas House a quorum — freezing all legislative activity — to stop the map from passing. It didn’t work and the map ultimately reached Abbott’s desk after the governor said he would keep calling lawmakers back until the congressional districts were redrawn.
Continued Fight Against the Map
Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder bashed the map in a Friday statement and said the party will continue fighting against it. “This isn’t over — we’ll see these clowns in court,” Scudder said in a statement. “We aren’t done fighting against these racially discriminatory maps, and fully expect the letter of the law to prevail over these sycophantic Republican politicians who think the rules don’t apply to them.” The path to get the map to Abbott’s desk drew outrage from different corners of the state — and has led to a gerrymandering tit-for-tat across the country.
Republican Perspective on the Map
When Texas legislative committees held hearings with the public — in the Capitol and across the state — an overwhelming majority of individuals who testified spoke out against the map. However, Republicans said the new map reflects the trends of the voters across Texas, seizing on the rightward shift in some areas of Texas in last year’s election. In one instance, a Republican state senator was even more straightforward. Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, who sponsored the map in the Texas Senate, said last week during the floor debate that if the state didn’t pass the map, Republicans would likely lose their slim majority in the U.S. House. The GOP currently holds a 219-212 lead over Democrats with four vacancies. “I believe that if Texas does not take this step, there is a significant risk of losing that Republican majority,” King said.
National Implications and Criticisms
During Trump’s first term, Republicans lost 40 seats in Congress in the 2018 midterm elections, allowing Democrats to regain control. Trump is seeking to avoid a similar fate in next year’s elections as his agenda has been controversial and vocally criticized by Democrats. That’s especially true of efforts such as his administration’s immigration enforcement agenda and the Big Beautiful Bill signed into law in July. In a news conference earlier this month, Rep. Gene Wu of Houston said Republicans are trying to “rewrite the rules in the middle of the game” in order to help keep control of Congress.
Democratic Response and Next Steps
“Everything that’s happening is so incredibly unpopular, not just what President Trump is doing, but also what Republicans are doing in Congress,” said Wu, who is the chair of the House Democratic caucus. Wu was among the Democratic party leaders who organized the quorum break, generating not only national headlines but outrage from Texas Republicans since the legislature could do nothing with so many Democrats out of state. Abbott and other Republican officials tried various ways to force Democratic lawmakers back to the Capitol. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, issued civil arrest warrants for absent members, Texas Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI to help find the Democratic members and Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to have the seats of 13 Democrats — including Wu — declared vacant. The outcome of that lawsuit is still pending.
Countermeasures from Other States
Democrats defended their decision to deny the Texas House a quorum, saying they were doing so on behalf of their constituents and nonwhite Texans. It wasn’t to bring attention to the Democratic party, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, said during a news conference this month in Chicago. “This quorum break is not about the Democratic Party, it’s about the Democratic process,” Martinez Fischer said. In order to try to cancel out the seats Republicans might gain from Texas’ new map, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered lawmakers in his state to redraw their congressional districts to give Democrats five more seats. Voters in California have the final say in a special election which is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Conclusion
The signing of the new congressional map into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott marks a significant development in the ongoing battle for control of Congress. The map, which could potentially net five additional seats for the GOP, has been met with outrage from Democrats who argue it is racist and designed to dilute the power of nonwhite voters. As the map heads to federal court, the outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the fight for control of Congress will continue to be fiercely contested.
FAQs
Q: What is the new congressional map signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott?
A: The new congressional map is a redrawn map of Texas’ congressional districts that could potentially net five additional seats for the GOP.
Q: Why did President Donald Trump ask the Texas Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts?
A: President Trump asked the Texas Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts in order to minimize the risk of Republicans losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 elections.
Q: What was the reaction of Democratic state lawmakers to the introduction of the new map?
A: Democratic state lawmakers were outraged, arguing that the map was racist and would dilute the power of nonwhite voters in Texas.
Q: What action did more than 50 House Democrats take in an effort to stop the map from passing?
A: More than 50 House Democrats fled the state to deny the Texas House a quorum, freezing all legislative activity.
Q: What is the next step for the map?
A: The next battleground for the map is likely to be in federal court after a judge set aside time in October to consider an injunction in an El Paso courtroom.
Q: How have other states responded to the new map?
A: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered lawmakers in his state to redraw their congressional districts to give Democrats five more seats in an effort to counter the potential gains by Republicans in Texas.
