UPDATE: The Texas House of Representatives faces an urgent showdown as it prepares to reconvene at 1 p.m. CT today. Tensions are escalating after several Democratic lawmakers fled the state in protest of a controversial Republican redistricting plan that could add up to five new GOP seats in Congress.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate and arrest the fleeing Democrats, stating that the order will remain in effect until they are “accounted for and brought back” to Austin. The escalating conflict underscores a fierce battle over control of congressional representation leading into the 2026 midterm elections.
In a phone interview with CNBC, former President Donald Trump weighed in on the redistricting crisis, asserting that Republicans are “entitled” to additional seats in Congress. “We have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. I won Texas. I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, and we are entitled to five more seats,” Trump declared.
The redistricting effort is backed by Trump, prompting many Texas Democrats to leave the state on Sunday in protest. Their exodus has garnered support from leaders in blue states; Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California have both indicated they will pursue similar partisan redistricting efforts in response.
At 10 a.m. CT today, Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin will join Texas House Democrats and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for a press conference, further amplifying the Democrats’ resolve against the GOP’s redistricting strategy.
Trump also criticized Democratic governors for their plans to redraw congressional maps, emphasizing that “California is gerrymandered.” He argued that such tactics justify the Republican efforts in Texas.
The political ramifications of this standoff are profound. With both parties gearing up for the midterms, the outcome of today’s session could alter the balance of power in Congress.
Urgent updates will follow as this story develops. Stay tuned for the latest on Texas’s redistricting fight and its implications for the upcoming elections.
