Texas Republicans launched a mid-decade redistricting effort Monday with backing from President Donald Trump, aiming to reshape several congressional districts in Houston and other urban areas to expand the GOP’s hold on the U.S. House.
The move comes during a 30-day special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, who included redistricting on the agenda alongside disaster response and education policies. The goal, Republicans say, is to address legal concerns from the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged racial gerrymandering in the state’s 2021 map.
Trump, who continues to exert influence over Texas Republicans, called for the state to redraw its congressional map to produce up to five new Republican-leaning districts.
“This is your chance to make it right,” Trump told state lawmakers in a video message ahead of the session. “Texas is the biggest opportunity to grow our House majority in 2026.”
The redistricting push targets several majority-minority districts in Harris County and the Dallas–Fort Worth area, including Texas’ 9th, 18th, 29th and 33rd districts—currently held by Democrats. Republicans argue the existing boundaries were drawn based on race and risk violating the Constitution.
Democrats and civil rights groups, however, say the effort is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress voters of color and entrench GOP power.
“This is a craven power grab being pushed during a time when people are dealing with floods, displacement, and uncertainty,” said U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth. “The voters deserve better.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused Trump and Abbott of attempting to “rig the maps and steal elections.”
Legal experts say the effort carries political and legal risks. Texas already faces multiple lawsuits over its 2021 map, which is still under federal court review. Any new map is likely to draw fresh legal challenges, possibly reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some Republicans have also voiced quiet concerns that aggressive gerrymandering could backfire, making safe districts more competitive or triggering voter backlash.
Still, Texas has a history of mid-decade redistricting. In 2003, the GOP-controlled Legislature redrew the map in a similar move that led to protracted court battles and congressional upheaval.
If successful, the current proposal could help Republicans defend their narrow 220–212 House majority in 2026.
Redistricting debates are expected to dominate the special session in the coming weeks, with draft maps likely to emerge from committees by early August.