Texas Republicans plan to consider new congressional districts in a special session after Trump urged them to redraw the map to gain more seats in the midterm elections. Governor Abbott has placed redistricting on the agenda following a letter from the Department of Justice alleging that four districts violate the 14th Amendment due to racial gerrymandering. While it is typical for states to redraw maps every ten years, some lawmakers opt to adjust lines more frequently for electoral benefit. The potential changes have provoked concern regarding gerrymandering and may instigate retaliatory actions from Democratic leaders.
Trump told reporters that there are several states in which he believes Republicans can redraw districts in order to pick up seats in Congress and keep a narrow majority. Texas would be the biggest one, he said on July 16.
Typically, states redraw their congressional district maps every ten years to accommodate shifts in population. But in many states, lawmakers have taken to changing the lines whenever they see it as politically advantageous to help their party gain an advantage.
The fact that Trump and Texas Republicans are currently weighing their options of redistricting in the middle of a decade is non-traditional, but not completely unheard of. But the move has, unsurprisingly, raised concerns and discussions about gerrymandering.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom of the Democratic Party has vowed to retaliate by redistricting his own state's 52 seats to pick up more Democratic representation.
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