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Why California and Texas are at the centre of a redistricting battle

August 23, 2025

In an escalating political battle over redistricting, lawmakers in California and Texas are redrawing congressional maps to gain partisan advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives. Texas Republicans initiated the conflict by passing a measure to create five new Republican-leaning congressional seats mid-decade, prompting California Democrats to counter with their own redistricting plan designed to neutralize Texas' move. This unusual mid-decade gerrymandering effort could spread to other states before the 2024 midterm elections, with several Democratic and Republican-controlled states considering similar actions.

Who is affected

  • The 70 million Americans living in California and Texas
  • Minority voters in Texas whose voting power may be diluted
  • U.S. voters across multiple states considering redistricting
  • Current and future members of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Political parties fighting for control of the House

What action is being taken

  • Texas Republicans are creating five new congressional seats favoring their party
  • California lawmakers have voted to redraw state maps to counteract Texas' move
  • California is putting its new maps before voters in November
  • Democratic-led states (Illinois, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland) are preparing countermeasures
  • Republican-led states (Indiana, Florida, Missouri, Ohio) are exploring redistricting to boost Republican representation

Why it matters

  • The House of Representatives currently "rests on a knife's edge" with Democrats needing only three more seats to gain control
  • Controlling the House allows a party to launch investigations of presidential actions
  • Redistricting could determine which party controls the House after the 2024 elections
  • The process involves potential violations of the Voting Rights Act through dilution of minority voting power
  • This represents an unusual mid-decade redistricting effort with explicit partisan intentions from both parties

What's next

  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign the redistricting measure into law
  • California voters will decide on the new maps in November
  • Democrats and civil rights groups have threatened to sue Texas over potential Voting Rights Act violations
  • More states may join the redistricting battle before the 2024 midterms
  • New York will need to change its state constitution to implement similar redistricting changes

Read full article from source: BBC