President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Republicans are “entitled to 5 extra seats” in Texas, the place a redistricting battle is enjoying out amongst state lawmakers.
However the Lone Star State’s political showdown has nationwide implications, with management of the U.S. Home doubtlessly at stake.
Republicans began the 119th Congress with the smallest Home majority in practically 100 years. At present, the occasion has a 219-212 majority with 4 vacancies. When these vacancies are stuffed, Democrats would want to solely internet three seats subsequent November to win again the Home.
U.S. Home of Representatives occasion breakdown as of Aug. 2025
ABC Information
Home Speaker Mike Johnson can solely afford to lose three Republican in any vote the place all members are current. The slim margin created some complications for Johnson in delivering Trump’s sweeping tax cut and spending bill, rewriting cryptocurrency rules and extra.
In a bid to defend the delicate majority, and even broaden it, Trump’s political operation approached Texas Republicans in June about redrawing the state’s congressional map forward of the 2026 midterm elections.
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators’ public listening to on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Aug. 1, 2025.
Eric Homosexual/AP
Midterm elections traditionally have been unkind to the president’s occasion, although Johnson mentioned final week when Texas Republicans launched the brand new maps that the GOP would “defy historical past” and “develop the bulk within the Home” in subsequent yr’s races.
The brand new map may internet Republicans between three and 5 seats if enacted, analysts previously told ABC News. The proposed modifications would impression districts in Austin, Dallas and Houston — areas which have sometimes voted blue.
The Texas redistricting efforts, that are not often achieved mid-decade between the census, has prompted main pushback from Democrats.
Democratic lawmakers fled the state in protest, denying Republicans the required quorum to vote on enacting the brand new map. In response, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, ordered the Texas Division of Public Security to arrest the Democrats and convey them again to Austin.
President Trump on Tuesday defended the transfer in a telephone interview with CNBC.
“We’ve a possibility in Texas to choose up 5 seats. We’ve a extremely good governor, and now we have good folks in Texas. And I received Texas, I acquired the very best vote within the historical past of Texas as you most likely know. And we’re entitled to 5 extra seats,” Trump mentioned.
President Donald Trump indicators whereas boarding Air Drive One at Lehigh Valley Worldwide Airport, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Allentown, Pa.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
Democratic leaders have pledged to attempt to counter the Texas Republican effort with new maps of their very own.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday, at a information convention alongside a number of Texas Home Democrats in Albany, mentioned she’s going to attempt to gerrymander her state’s map — although famous it was unlikely to be achieved earlier than the 2026 midterms.
“We’re already engaged on a legislative course of, reviewing our authorized methods, and we’ll do the whole lot in our energy to cease this brazen assault,” Hochul mentioned. “The gloves are off, and I say ‘Convey it on.'”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, too, mentioned if Texas moved ahead with the brand new map then they’d reply by placing their very own redistricting plan earlier than voters this November.
Each states presently use unbiased commissions to attract their maps following constitutional amendments.
“No matter they’re doing shall be neutered right here within the state of California, and they’ll pay that value,” Newsom mentioned on Monday.
