By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, TRÂN NGUYỄN and NADIA LATHAN, Related Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans ended a legislative session Friday with out approving new congressional maps, however they nonetheless intend to fulfill President Donald Trump’s needs for redistricting that bolsters their social gathering forward of the 2026 midterm elections as a multistate struggle over management of Congress intensifies.
After Democrats thwarted Texas Republicans’ redistricting plan with their absence throughout a particular session, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, was anticipated to shortly name one other particular session in Austin.
In the meantime, California Democrats plan to launch a proposal for brand spanking new maps geared toward countering any Republican positive aspects in Texas.
The nation’s two most populous states have been on the forefront of a partisan battle that has reached into a number of courtrooms and statehouses managed by each events, with the stability of Capitol Hill and Trump’s agenda at stake for the latter half of his second presidency.
Texas Democrats who left the state almost two weeks in the past have denied their Republican colleagues the required attendance to conduct enterprise and vote on Trump’s redistricting agenda. However they’ve mentioned they’d to return to Austin for one more session as soon as California Democrats launch a brand new plan that they’ve been shaping behind closed doorways.
“Don’t go very far, as I consider our governor will likely be calling us again for one more particular session very quickly,” Texas Home Speaker Dustin Burrows mentioned throughout a short session Friday morning earlier than lawmakers adjourned.
Burros mentioned Abbott was anticipated to behave at midday CDT.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks throughout a information convention Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks throughout a information convention Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Battle has gone nationwide
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned Thursday that his state will maintain a Nov. 4 particular election to hunt approval of redrawn districts supposed to provide Democrats 5 extra U.S. Home seats.
“We are able to’t stand again and watch this democracy disappear district by district all throughout the nation,” Newsom mentioned at what amounted to a marketing campaign kickoff rally for the as-yet unreleased maps. “We aren’t bystanders on this world. We are able to form the long run.”
Newsom’s announcement marked the primary time any state past Texas has formally waded into the mid-decade redistricting struggle, although a number of governors and legislative leaders from each events have threatened such strikes. The Texas plan was stalled when minority Democrats went to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts on Aug. 3 to cease the Legislature from passing any payments.
Trump has urged different Republican-run states to redraw maps, even dispatching Vice President JD Vance to Indiana to press officers there. In Missouri, a doc obtained by The Related Press exhibits the state Senate acquired a $46,000 bill to activate six redistricting software program licenses and supply coaching for as much as 10 employees members. Florida legislative leaders have urged they are going to contemplate redistricting within the fall.
Newsom inspired different Democratic-led states to get entangled.
“We have to rise up — not simply California. Different blue states want to face up,” Newsom mentioned.
Home management may come down to some seats in 2026
Republicans maintain a 219-212 majority within the Home, with 4 vacancies. New maps are usually drawn as soon as a decade after the census is performed. Many states, together with Texas, give legislators the facility to attract maps. California is amongst states that depend on an unbiased fee that’s purported to be nonpartisan.
The California map would take impact provided that a Republican state strikes ahead, and it will stay by means of the 2030 elections. After that, Democrats say they’d return mapmaking energy to the unbiased fee permitted by voters greater than a decade in the past.
In Los Angeles, Newsom and others depicted the looming battle as a battle with all issues Trump, tying it explicitly to the destiny of American democracy.
“Donald Trump, you may have poked the bear, and we’ll punch again,” mentioned Newsom, a doable 2028 presidential contender.
Some individuals have already got mentioned they’d sue to dam the trouble.
“Gavin Newsom’s newest stunt has nothing to do with Californians and all the pieces to do with consolidating radical Democrat energy, silencing California voters, and propping up his pathetic 2028 presidential pipe dream,” Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez mentioned in a press release. “Newsom’s made it clear: he’ll shred California’s Structure and trample over democracy — operating a cynical, self-serving playbook the place Californians are an afterthought and energy is the one precedence.”
California Democrats maintain 43 of the state’s 52 Home seats.
Lawmakers should formally declare the particular election, which they plan to do subsequent week after voting on the brand new maps. Democrats maintain supermajorities in each chambers— sufficient to behave with none Republican votes.
Nguyễn reported from Sacramento, California, Blood reported from Los Angeles and Barrow reported from Atlanta. Related Press author David Lieb in Jefferson Metropolis, Missouri, contributed.
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