Texas GOP Summons Additional Legislative Session for Redistricting, Anticipating Return of Democrats
Texas Governor Abbott Calls Second Special Session to Redraw Congressional Maps
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced a second 30-day special legislative session, set to begin at 12 p.m. Central Time (1 p.m. Eastern) on Monday. The session will focus on redrawing congressional maps, a move driven by pressure from former President Donald Trump to protect the GOP's narrow majority ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The new session follows the Texas House's approval of a new GOP-drawn congressional map, which has sparked intense opposition from Democrats. The map is alleged to be racially discriminatory and intended to dilute Latino and Black voting power by "packing" and "cracking" Democratic-leaning communities in Houston and Dallas.
A lawsuit has been filed by Texas residents, claiming the map violates the Voting Rights Act because it fails to create enough Latino-majority districts to reflect population growth. Legal experts assert that the map favors Republicans politically at the expense of minority communities.
Governor Abbott has indicated he will swiftly sign the new map into law once it reaches his desk. The legislature aims to complete this special session’s work by early September.
The potential impact of this redistricting includes increasing Republican control of Texas’s congressional delegation by five seats, influencing the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives nationally. However, legal challenges may delay final implementation and could result in court-ordered revisions depending on judicial rulings on claims of racial discrimination in the map.
In addition to redistricting, the second special session will address a slew of other conservative priorities, similar to the plans set forth for the first special session. These include penalties for lawmakers who break quorum, access to Ivermectin, and an East Texas groundwater study. The session will also consider legislation relating to camp safety in response to the July 4 floods that resulted in numerous deaths and address flood relief following the catastrophic storms in the Texas Hill Country last month.
The Texas House Democrats who fled the state to prevent redistricting have signaled they are prepared to end their standoff and return to the Capitol. They have set two conditions for returning: the first special session ending and California introducing a new congressional map. California's legislature is set to convene on Monday to begin the legislative process around their proposed map, which could potentially produce up to five new U.S. House seats for Democrats.
Governor Abbott has criticized Texas House Democrats for stalling efforts on redistricting and other issues. He has called them back to Austin to finish the redistricting work. The Texas House Democrats plan to make their case against the redistricting bill on the Texas House floor upon their return.
Governor Abbott reiterated his commitment to using all necessary tools to ensure Texas delivers results for its citizens. He remains determined to secure up to five additional Republican seats in the U.S. House, a goal of the second special session.
The second special session is expected to last for 30 days.
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