Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that the state legislature will focus on redistricting during a special session later this year, as Republicans look to defend their narrow House majority in 2026. The move could potentially reshape the state’s congressional map — which already heavily favors Republicans.
The decision comes as former President Donald Trump’s allies have encouraged Texas Republicans to redraw the state’s maps to create more House districts that favor Republicans ahead of next year’s midterms. This strategy aims to consolidate Republican power and protect their legislative gains, particularly in the wake of the 2022 midterms where they managed to retain control of the U.S. House despite a national shift in favor of Democrats.
However, some Texas GOP lawmakers are wary of the potential political hazards involved. An anonymous Republican state legislator, speaking to POLITICO last month, warned that such actions could lead to a ‘dummymander’ — a term used to describe a situation where, in wave years, previously safe red districts might become vulnerable to Democratic pickups. The concern is that by shifting Republican-leaning voters out of safer districts, the new maps could inadvertently create more competitive races in districts that are currently considered more favorable to Democrats.
Meanwhile, Texas is currently facing a lawsuit over the congressional maps drawn in 2021. The Department of Justice originally filed the lawsuit during the Biden administration, alleging that the maps underrepresented non-white Texas voters. However, the challenge was withdrawn after Trump returned to office, raising questions about the potential influence of political affiliations on legal proceedings in the state.
As the special session approaches, the implications for Texas politics, the broader national landscape, and the balance of power in Congress remain uncertain. The redistricting efforts will be closely watched by both political parties and legal experts, who are keen to understand the potential impact on future elections and the political landscape for years to come.