At the request of Donald Trump, Texas Republicans are preparing to redraw the state’s congressional map in a clear attempt to lock in GOP power ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the legislature will take up redistricting in a special session—a rare move outside of the usual once-a-decade process tied to the U.S. Census. The push came directly from Trump’s political team, which is urging Republican-led states to redraw maps now in order to squeeze out more GOP seats.
Texas already has one of the most lopsided congressional delegations in the country. Republicans hold 25 of the state’s 38 U.S. House seats. But to try and gain more, they’ll likely need to shift voters between districts—a strategy experts say could break apart competitive areas and dilute voters of color.
“This is about locking in power before voters even cast a ballot,” said political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus. “Redistricting gives them the clearest opportunity to increase their strength and numbers.”
The strategy is already being tested in Tarrant County, where a controversial redistricting plan was forced through last month by Republican county officials.
In a packed meeting on June 3, local leaders voted 3-2 to approve a new map that moves many people of color out of a swing district and into a safer GOP one. Critics from both parties showed up in large numbers to oppose the plan, calling it blatant gerrymandering.
“It’s purely partisan,” County Judge Tim O’Hare admitted on local TV. “At the end of the day, I’m doing it to put another Republican on the commissioners court, period, the end.”
Dozens of residents spoke out against the plan before the vote. Some were even removed from the meeting by O’Hare.
“Your constituents are telling you that they do not want these maps,” one woman said before being escorted out.
After the vote, the Trump camp quickly praised the effort—and called for more counties and state lawmakers to follow suit. A new legislative session this month is expected to push more redistricting efforts forward.
Bob Stein, a redistricting expert at Rice University, said Republicans are moving aggressively now because they see trouble on the horizon.
“Republicans are afraid they’re going to lose upwards of three to four seats in Louisiana, California, New York and probably New Jersey,” he said. “So what they want to do is get going now, and what you’re seeing in Tarrant County is the effect of that.”
Even as Republicans redraw maps, turnout in Texas remains low. Just over 60% of eligible voters showed up for the 2024 election—down from 66% in 2020. In May’s local elections, less than 8% of Tarrant County voters cast ballots.
Despite these numbers, Democrats have found moments of strength in the region. Beto O’Rourke outperformed Ted Cruz in Tarrant County in 2018. Joe Biden and Colin Allred both won the county in later races.
That puts pressure on Republicans to redraw the map before voters can flip more seats.
Meanwhile, the Texas GOP is at war with itself.
Sen. John Cornyn is facing a primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has been accused of bribery, obstruction, harassment, and abuse of office—and led efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Cornyn hasn’t held back. He’s called Paxton a “conman” and a “fraud.” Paxton has fired back, saying Cornyn is just another D.C. insider clinging to power.
“The split in the Republican party will definitely be on full display in this election,” Rottinghaus said. “This is a wound that’s been festering for a long time. It has not been sutured closed, and it may never be.”
Voters like Ken Shimamoto in Fort Worth say they’re frustrated but not surprised.
“Everybody hates Ted Cruz, but Cornyn seemed the more reasonable senator until Paxton mounted his challenge,” he said. “And ever since then, it seems like Cornyn has been bending over backwards to appease Donald Trump.”
Cornyn posted a photo of himself reading The Art of the Deal, with the caption: “Recommended.”
But some of his actions have drawn serious criticism. Just days after Paxton announced his campaign, Cornyn asked the Department of Justice to investigate an Islamic center’s plan to build housing near a mosque. Without evidence, he claimed the project might violate religious fairness laws. The DOJ opened a probe, but quietly closed it a month later.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called Cornyn’s complaint “factually baseless.”
For many in Texas, the bigger issue is how gerrymandering feeds political extremism.
“We’ve been gerrymandered to death,” said Allison Campolo, a Fort Worth resident running to lead the local Democratic Party. “That really drives down engagement. It prevents people from knowing what their elected representatives are doing and how it affects them.”
Despite recent polling showing low approval ratings for Trump, Cornyn, and Paxton, experts warn that none of it matters if voters don’t show up.
“Texans can continue to tune in, not out. Continue to fight, vote, and make your voices heard,” said Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey.
The courts may still weigh in. Veasey said lawsuits have already been filed challenging the new maps, arguing they violate the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. But the same officials who passed the maps also voted to hire the same law firm—Public Interest Legal Foundation—to defend them in court.
The political deck may be stacked, but Veasey urged Texans not to back down.
“Not giving up is the only option,” he said.
