Democratic state congress persons have emigrated to sympathetic states to thwart Abbott and his plot to draw new districting laws in favor of Republicans. This, after Trump "suggested," that Texas could use a few more "safe seats," for next year's mid-term elections. He's kind of telegraphing panic and desperation, I think. If he ever had to answer to a Congress less obeisant to his whims, his head would explode. It won't work, though. Do he and Abbott think the Blue states don't know their way around redistricting? https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/04/texas-democrats-redistricting-maps-abbott-trump/
I think they are counting on Dems not to have to stomach to fight fire with fire or escalate, and its usually a safe bet, historically speaking. The Dems chickening out of a partisan gerrimander in NY probably cost them the House in 2022/24.
The Texas plan to gain seats through unprecedented mid-decade gerrymandering will work. (On a net basis - if Dems do the same, they'll do it to a lesser degree, with smaller results.) History is our guide; Trump gets away with every crime or degradation of our ethics and norms. Why would this be any different? The only small silver lining is that it's fun to watch Trump supporters view this vileness and pretend that it isn't happening.
They already did a lot of it before the the '22 and '24 elections. I think NY wiped out around three Republican seats in the last round. It is also funny that they chose Illinois seeing as how gerrymandered their congressional districts are. 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois - Wikipedia
This has been part of Texas politics since 1870. There is nothing new here. It’s just a delay tactic and end of the day performative theater. I don’t see them making it until November. Gerrymandering is great if you win, but terrible if you lose. Sell your home. Start renting and move around — never let the government steal your vote.
The entire redistricting is all such a scam. As I mentioned in another thread. Get AI to draw non partisan districts. Elon won’t do us wrong.
Yes, her and Gavin have said they would respond, but Dems love to talk and then weasel out, so I will reserve congratulating them on fighting until they actually act
Both are untalented, career NY politicians that only ended up in high office because of a scandal of their predecessor. Google David Paterson SNL if you want to get a sense on him. The skits are really funny.
Has this mid-decade gerrymandering, which is being done at the behest of Trump, been done before? Or is this a new level of political vileness that Donald Trump is taking the country into?
"State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) argued Abbott couldn’t push lawmakers out of their jobs. “That would not be lawful, but it is not surprising,” she said. “It is in keeping with a governor who is trying to silence the will of the voters.” "Abbott could not remove lawmakers on his own and would need the courts to go along with his plan, according to University of Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller. While Abbott and other Republicans could argue that the Democrats had abandoned their duties, those lawmakers would have a chance to make the case that they were representing their constituents by denying the majority the quorum it needs to operate, he added." “This is not a unilateral action of the governor,” Muller said. “Even if you go to a court, you’re going to have to make a showing that I think it’s going be tough to make.”
