Texas just handed Republicans a major win. The Texas House voted 88-52 along party lines on Wednesday to approve new redistricting maps, a move that strengthens the GOP’s grip on Congress, as the Daily Mail reports. President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott are popping the champagne, while Democrats cry foul.
The Lone Star State’s redistricting maps, passed Wednesday, are set to add five GOP-leaning congressional seats for 2026. Texas Republicans, led by Abbott, crafted these maps to cement their dominance. Democrats, predictably, are screaming about fairness while plotting legal challenges.
Democrats tried to derail the vote by fleeing to Illinois and New York in early August. Fifty-seven lawmakers bolted, hoping to deny the quorum needed to pass legislation. Their stunt failed, as Texas state troopers were deployed to keep tabs on them around the clock.
Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth took defiance to a new level, camping out in the chamber for over 30 hours. She even slept on the floor, refusing to comply with what she called an “un-American” request. Her grandstanding earned her a pat on the back from Kamala Harris, who dubbed her a “hero” on X.
“You are among those that history will reveal was among the heroes of this moment,” Harris told Collier. Heroes? More like political pawns playing to the progressive gallery while Texas moves forward.
Collier’s resistance didn’t stop there -- she joined a call with California’s Gavin Newsom and New Jersey’s Cory Booker, only to bail when warned that her actions might be a felony. She then filed a lawsuit claiming “illegal restraint” by the state. Sounds like someone’s desperate for the spotlight.
A social media threat on Tuesday evening targeting those blocking lawmakers’ exits forced an evacuation at the Capitol. The incident underscored the heated emotions surrounding this redistricting fight. Yet, Texas Republicans stayed focused, pushing their agenda through.
State Rep. Todd Hunter didn’t mince words: “The underlying goal of this plan is straight forward: improve Republican political performance.” Democrats clutched their pearls, but Hunter’s honesty exposes their own partisan playbook. Pot, meet kettle.
“In a democracy, people choose their representatives,” griped State Rep. Chris Turner. He claims the maps let politicians “choose their voters.” Funny how Democrats only care about democracy when it suits their narrative.
Trump took to Truth Social, hailing Texas’ “big WIN” and predicting five more GOP seats. “Texas never lets us down,” he declared, urging Florida, Indiana, and Missouri to follow suit. His bold vision to reshape Congress is gaining traction, and the left is panicking.
Trump didn’t stop there -- he called for ending mail-in voting, labeling it a fraud. “If we do these TWO things, we will pick up 100 more seats,” he proclaimed. The man’s not wrong; cleaning up elections could shift the balance of power.
Democrats, meanwhile, are gearing up for courtroom battles, arguing the maps violate the Voting Rights Act. They point to Texas’ history of redistricting disputes, with lawsuits dating back to the 1970s. Cry me a river -- Republicans counter that the new maps actually increase majority-minority seats.
California’s Democrat machine, led by Newsom, is rushing to counter Texas with its redistricting plan. Their legislature is poised to approve five Democratic-leaning districts, pending voter approval in November. Newsom’s “new energy” rhetoric sounds like a desperate attempt to keep up.
“This is a new Democratic Party,” Newsom boasted. New? It’s the same old power grab, just dressed up in progressive platitudes.
Former President Barack Obama backed Newsom’s plan at a fundraiser, calling it a “smart, measured approach.” Measured? It’s a blatant tit-for-tat, proving Democrats are just as eager to gerrymander when it suits them.
