Texas Redistricting Virtually Finalized to Maintain Trump’s Control of Congress

Republicans Aim to Secure Five More House Seats
Democrats Counter With Redistricting Efforts in California

The redistricting initiative pushed by the Republican Party in Texas, aimed at securing victory in next year's federal congressional elections, has been virtually finalized.

On the 23rd (local time), a protester at the Texas State Capitol in Austin shouted "Fascists" while gesturing. On the same day, a bill redrawing 38 federal congressional districts within the state passed in the Senate session. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to Bloomberg and other sources on August 23 (local time), the Texas State Senate approved a redistricting plan designed by the Republican Party to secure five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for next year's elections.

About 50 Democratic lawmakers opposed the redistricting and left Texas for two weeks in an attempt to prevent a quorum and block the vote. However, when California-a Democratic stronghold-also began pursuing its own redistricting efforts, the lawmakers returned to the legislature on the 18th and participated in the vote.

With Republicans holding the majority in the Texas legislature, the bill passed swiftly through both the House and the Senate, and only the signature of Governor Greg Abbott, a key Republican figure, remains.

Previously, President Donald Trump had pressured Texas to carry out redistricting to help the Republican Party take control of the House and maintain his influence in next year's midterm elections.

The midterm elections will be held on November 3 next year. The results, which will determine 35 of the 100 Senate seats and all 435 House seats, will serve as a midterm evaluation of President Trump's administration. Currently, the Republican Party holds a slight lead over the Democratic Party in both the House and the Senate.

In response to the Republican Party's efforts to increase its seats, the Democratic Party, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, is pursuing redistricting in California to favor Democratic interests. On August 18, a redistricting bill that would allow the Democratic Party to secure five additional House seats was introduced in the California State Legislature, and a public referendum is scheduled for November.