Thirty Democratic lawmakers from Texas are strategizing in a Chicago hotel against Republican efforts to gerrymander the state's congressional map. President Trump requested Texas to redraw its districts to secure more Republican seats. Governor Abbott responded by calling a special legislative session to push through a new congressional map alongside a flood-relief bill. This redistricting is expected to benefit Republicans significantly, particularly by dismantling Democratic districts in key areas. Several incumbent Democrats, such as Al Green and Joaquin Castro, face threats to their seats due to these changes.
"Just a simple redrawing, we pick up five seats," he said. Abbott then heeded the call, announcing a special legislative session to pass a flood-relief bill and a new map that would be more friendly to his party in the midterms.
"It's reminiscent of when he called Georgia Republicans and asked them to find him 11,000 votes in 2020," says Representative James Talarico, an Austin-area representative who may run for Senate next year.
The current congressional delegation from Texas is made up of 25 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one vacancy following the death of Democrat Sylvester Turner in March.
One of the seats at threat is held by Al Green, who has been representing a largely Black district in Houston since 2005.
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