Trump-led bid to redraw Texas electoral map triggers wider tussle

Republican move draws threats of retaliation from Democratic states

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HOUSTON - The escalating political fight over the Texas congressional map is spreading through other states across the U.S., triggering an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting arms race with the balance of power in Washington at stake.

At U.S. President Donald Trump's urging, Texas Republicans have proposed new congressional districts aimed at flipping five Democrat-held U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm polls, further skewing what is already considered a deeply partisan map in that state.

In response, Democratic governors elsewhere — most notably Mr. Gavin Newsom of California, the only state with more congressional districts than Texas — have threatened to retaliate by mounting their own redistricting efforts.

"Donald Trump is a cheater, and so is Governor Greg Abbott," Mr. J.B. Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, told reporters on Aug. 5. Standing alongside him were several Democratic lawmakers from Texas who fled their home state on Aug. 4 to deny Republicans a quorum and prevent a vote on the proposed new map.

"As far as I'm concerned, everything is on the table," he said.

Democrats need to flip only three Republican-held seats to retake the majority in the 435-seat House in 2026, so even modest gains for either party via redistricting could prove decisive. If Democrats win the House, they could stymie much of Mr. Trump's legislative agenda and pursue multiple probes into his administration.