President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Republicans could gain up to five additional U.S. House seats through redistricting in Texas, potentially solidifying the party's narrow majority ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The GOP currently controls the House 220-212, with three vacancies in Democrat-leaning districts.
Trump asserted that redrawing congressional maps in Texas could significantly impact the election outcome, calling the state “the biggest one” in terms of potential gains. Historically, the president's party tends to lose House seats during midterms, but Trump believes strategic redistricting could shift the balance.
Texas, which has 38 House districts, is already largely controlled by Republicans, who hold 25 seats. The state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott, recently added redistricting to the agenda of a special legislative session starting July 21. The move follows concerns from the U.S. Department of Justice, which questioned whether four Democratic-majority minority districts were racially gerrymandered during the 2021 redistricting.
Democrats have strongly criticized the move. Representative Marc Veasey, whose district is among those flagged by the DOJ, called the redistricting push a "craven power grab." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Texas Democrats in condemning what he described as a coordinated effort by Trump and Abbott to "disenfranchise millions" through manipulated maps.
Redrawing districts could backfire, making some Republican-held seats more competitive. However, Trump dismissed concerns about retaliation from Democratic-led states like New York or California, saying, “That’s fine too.”
As legal and political battles over redistricting heat up, Texas may become a key battleground in determining the future balance of power in Congress. The outcome could significantly influence the 2026 elections and reshape national politics.