Texas Senate Approves Redrawn Congressional Maps Backed by Trump

The Texas Senate on Saturday approved a controversial bill to redraw the state’s congressional districts, a measure pushed by President Donald Trump that could shift as many as five Democratic-held seats to Republican control.

The vote followed the state House’s passage of the plan earlier in the week, sending the legislation to Governor Greg Abbott, a fellow Republican, who is expected to sign it into law. The move comes as states across the country engage in partisan redistricting battles ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

The chamber adopted the bill 18–11 along party lines after more than eight hours of heated debate. Democrats attempted to stall the measure, with Senator Carol Alvarado launching a filibuster on Friday night similar to her 15-hour effort during a 2021 redistricting fight. But shortly after midnight, Senate Republicans used a rare procedural maneuver to end debate and force a final vote, according to the Texas Tribune.

Republicans have made little secret of their aim, acknowledging that additional seats in Texas could bolster their narrow majority in the US House of Representatives. Similar efforts are underway in other Republican-led states. In response, Democratic strongholds such as California are pursuing their own redistricting strategies; lawmakers in Sacramento this week approved a plan designed to secure five more seats for Democrats, pending voter approval in November.

Democrats in Texas have sharply criticized the maps, accusing Republicans of violating federal law by weakening the voting power of Hispanic and Black communities. Senator Royce West warned that the changes could cut the number of African American representatives from Texas in Congress from four to two. “I call that retrogression,” West said.

Republican lawmakers, however, defended the plan. Senator Phil King, who sponsored the bill, said race was not a factor in drafting the districts. “From my perspective, why would I use racial data? Voting history is just much more accurate and is well established as a legal way to draw maps,” King told colleagues, stressing that attorneys had assured him the proposal complies with the law.

The bill’s path to approval had already been marked by drama. More than 50 Democratic members of the Texas House left the state for two weeks to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass the measure. They have since returned, allowing the process to move forward.

Legal challenges are now expected. Democrats argue the map represents racial discrimination and partisan gerrymandering, practices that a Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found most Americans view as harmful to democracy.

If signed, Texas’ new districts will not require voter approval, unlike California’s plan, underscoring the wide disparities in how states handle redistricting — and setting the stage for courtroom battles that could shape the balance of power in Washington for years to come.