Texas GOP Plans Redistricting to Gain Five House Seats Amid Backlash

Texas Republicans, led by President Donald Trump and state lawmakers, are aggressively pursuing a redistricting plan aimed at gaining additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives by redrawing congressional maps to reflect what they consider the state's political shift toward the GOP. This effort has sparked significant backlash, with Democrats accusing the plan of racial gerrymandering designed to suppress voters of color, an accusation echoed by civil rights experts and litigants. The debate has drawn national attention, with figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticizing the GOP for trying to 'choose their voters,' while Texas Republicans defend the plan as a fair reflection of demographic changes. The controversy has also prompted Democratic-led states, such as California under Governor Gavin Newsom, to consider their own redistricting efforts in response. Analysts warn that the GOP’s reliance on recent Latino voter swings toward Trump might be a risky gamble, given fluctuating Latino support and recent polling showing declining approval of Trump among this demographic. As new maps face inevitable legal challenges, the redistricting battle in Texas exemplifies the broader national struggle over the balance of political power ahead of the 2026 elections.