Governor Greg Abbott of Texas issued a warning, saying that if California moves forward with its intention to alter its House map in order to impede Republican gains in Texas, the state may eliminate up to ten Democratic congressional districts.
Abbott made the claim that blue states had already changed their maps to benefit Democrats in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday.Abbott stated that Massachusetts, California, New York, and Illinois had previously used every possible gerrymandering technique. Texas can eliminate ten Democratic seats in our state if California attempts to add more.
Republicans intend to drastically cut the number of Democratic seats in Congress, as Abbott’s remarks demonstrate. Texas now has 12 Democrats, 25 Republicans, and one vacancy following the death of Democratic Representative Sylvester Turner in March.
With their new district boundaries, Republicans in Texas aim to win five additional seats in the upcoming elections. However, Democratic members have left the state to avoid a quorum, which is the bare minimum of lawmakers required to vote on new maps, so their plan is on hold.
Blue states are also getting ready for redistricting disputes in the meantime. In an effort to match Texas’ actions, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared last week that he would call a special session in November to allow Democrats to pass a new House map.
Republican-led states like Florida, Missouri, and Indiana may also rewrite their district lines, while New York and Illinois are also considering doing so.
