Contesting Texas Districts: Aerial Messages and Roadside Signs Generate Controversy in Cross-State Redistricting Dispute
In Texas, a contentious mid-decade redistricting effort is underway, aiming to add five Republican-leaning congressional districts to the state's current map. This move breaks from the usual once-per-decade redistricting cycle, causing significant political controversy and leading Texas Democrats to flee the state to prevent the vote [3][4].
Governor Greg Abbott has filed a lawsuit to remove Texas Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office, alleging that Wu's actions, along with other Democrats who broke quorum, amount to an abandonment of their office [5].
In response to this development, a national advocacy campaign, dubbed "Mess with Texas," has been launched by an anonymous group of self-described democracy advocates. The campaign, which features planes flying banners with the phrase "Mess with Texas" over state capitols in various states, aims to pressure Democratic-led states to consider their own mid-decade redistricting efforts as a countermeasure [1][2].
The intent of this campaign is to highlight Texas's redistricting fight nationally and encourage other states—especially Democratic-led ones—to take action to protect democratic representation [1][2]. The campaign has already flown banners over state capitols in Annapolis, Albany, and Sacramento, signalling national attention and urging a coordinated political response [1][2].
In Houston, the new map reshapes four currently Democrat-held districts, with the biggest change to the district currently held by Rep. Al Green. North Texas also sees significant changes, affecting the districts of Marc Veasey, Julie Johnson, and Jasmine Crockett [6].
Republicans currently control 25 of the state's 38 Congressional districts, and the newly proposed redistricting map is expected to increase this number by at least 10 percentage points [2]. U.S. Senator John Cornyn has received approval for the FBI to help find the "runaway Texas House Democrats" [7].
The "Mess with Texas" campaign frames Texas's redistricting effort as a "power grab" that threatens the traditional bipartisan agreement on redistricting timing and encourages resistance through similar tactics elsewhere [2]. Meanwhile, Democrats Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett in Central Texas would find their districts vastly different from the current map under the proposed changes [1].
As the mid-decade redistricting battle in Texas continues, the "Mess with Texas" campaign adds a new layer of national attention and pressure to the ongoing political controversy.
- The "Mess with Texas" campaign, initiated by democracy advocates, is highlighting Texas's mid-decade redistricting effort, framing it as a "power grab" that threatens democratic representation.
- In response to Texas's mid-decade redistricting effort, the "Mess with Texas" campaign has flown banners over state capitols in various Democratic-led states, urging politicians to consider their own mid-decade redistricting efforts.
- The newly proposed redistricting map in Texas, which aims to add five Republican-leaning congressional districts, is expected to increase the number of Republican-controlled districts from 25 to at least 35 in the state's 38 Congressional districts.
- Governor Greg Abbott has filed a lawsuit to remove Texas Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office, alleging that his actions, along with other Democrats who broke quorum, amount to an abandonment of their office, adding to the political controversy surrounding Texas's mid-decade redistricting effort.
