Democratic lawmakers in Texas and Indiana have accused Republican redistricting efforts of ‘congressional-level shoplifting,’ a term used to describe alleged unfair gerrymandering. The controversy centers on the 2026 Midterm Elections, with Democrats slamming Republican initiatives to secure additional congressional seats. Texas Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, argued that the Democrats’ absence from the state was a deliberate move to block a redistricting bill that could increase GOP representation.
The situation escalated as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other state officials called for the arrest and removal of Democrats who had disappeared, causing legislative delays. Abbott emphasized that Democrats who accepted money to leave the state might face felony bribery charges, highlighting the severity of the situation. Despite these calls for action, Democrats insist their absence was a strategic decision to protest the redistricting process.
JD Vance, the Republican Vice President, has also been drawn into the controversy, with Indiana Rep. Ed DeLaney accusing him of engaging in similar gerrymandering tactics. Vance, meanwhile, has defended the effort, claiming it is a necessary countermeasure against Democratic gerrymandering in blue states. As tensions mount, the debate over redistricting continues to dominate political discourse in the lead-up to the 2026 Midterm Elections.