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Texas approves new electoral map favouring Republicans

August 21, 2025

Texas legislators have approved new congressional maps that create five Republican-leaning seats, following a contentious two-week period where Democrats fled the state to stall the vote. The redistricting effort passed the Texas House of Representatives in an 88-52 vote and will now move to the state Senate for approval before reaching Governor Abbott's desk. This Texas redistricting has triggered similar electoral map battles across the country, with states like California proposing Democratic-favorable maps that would only take effect if Republican states like Texas proceed with their changes.

Who is affected

  • Texas voters, particularly minority voters whose voting power may be diluted
  • US House of Representatives election outcomes
  • Democratic and Republican parties' prospects for control of Congress
  • Voters in other states experiencing similar redistricting efforts (Florida, New York, Ohio, Missouri, California)

What action is being taken

  • Texas House of Representatives has passed new congressional maps in an 88-52 vote
  • California lawmakers are debating new maps that would advantage Democrats in five districts
  • Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is enforcing measures to prevent Democrats from fleeing again, including locking chamber doors
  • Democrats and civil rights groups are threatening to sue over the new maps

Why it matters

  • The new maps could give Republicans an edge in the 2026 midterm elections for the US House
  • The redistricting occurs outside the typical once-per-decade schedule following census data
  • The changes in Texas could trigger similar partisan redistricting in Democratic-controlled states
  • The redistricting raises legal questions about racial discrimination in voting maps
  • Current voting maps from 2021 are still being litigated over claims of racial discrimination

What's next

  • The maps will go to the Texas state Senate, where they are expected to be swiftly approved
  • Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign off on the maps
  • Democrats and civil rights groups plan to sue over the new maps
  • California may implement its own partisan redistricting in response to Texas' actions

Read full article from source: BBC