2:05Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, oversees a debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas.Eric Gay/AP
Following an extended day of deliberation, the Texas House of Representatives approved a GOP-backed congressional redistricting plan Wednesday night, which may shift five districts toward Republicans. This involves consolidating Democratic strongholds in Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth to create districts favorable to the GOP, while also increasing competition in two Rio Grande Valley districts currently represented by Democrats.
The districts of Democratic Representatives Al Green, Marc Veasey, Julie Johnson, Greg Casar, and Lloyd Doggett could be directly affected.
The decision follows weeks of criticism from Texas Democrats, who labeled the unusual mid-decade redistricting as an overt attempt at gerrymandering to bolster GOP representation in Congress.
While the revised map does not notably diminish Republican-held districts, analysts suggest its success will hinge on sustained Hispanic backing for the GOP in 2024, influencing the upcoming midterms. Minor revisions have been made since the map’s initial presentation in July.
Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, oversees a debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas.Eric Gay/AP
The redistricting proposal, championed by former President Donald Trump, is expected to succeed. It could clear the state Senate by week’s end before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu conceded defeat following the vote, acknowledging their setback in this phase of the battle.
“This battle may be lost, but the war is far from over,” Wu remarked, noting that legal action would be pursued once Abbott signs the bill into law.
Earlier in the session, House Democrats attempted to delay proceedings with numerous unlikely amendment proposals. Wu suggested postponing the map discussion until the Epstein documents are made public, but his motion was dismissed as irrelevant. Other Democrat-led amendments aimed at derailing or altering the maps also failed.
Texas state Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston, speaks as he stands with fellow Democrats during debate over a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas.Eric Gay/AP
Democrats condemned the Republican-led effort as undemocratic, claiming it was guided solely by Trump’s influence.
“Even if you don’t grasp redistricting, you should recognize dishonesty—this is what happens when those who can’t win resort to cheating,” Wu declared.
Democratic Rep. Joe Moody added, “These maps intensify the marginalization of communities of color, all because a single man in Washington demanded it. This isn’t democracy—it’s dictatorship.”
Rep. Harold Dutton warned Republicans, “You may win small battles, but the fight for justice will ultimately prevail.”
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu debates the newly introduced redistricting bill, House bill 4 during a House meeting in the State Capitol on Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty Images
GOP Rep. Todd Hunter, the bill’s sponsor, pushed back against Democratic accusations, citing their previous walkout as the reason for delays in legislative progress.
“You abandoned your posts for 18 days—don’t accuse us of excluding you now,” Hunter fired back.
The special session faced disruptions when Democrats fled Texas to deny a quorum, despite threats of arrest from GOP leaders. Some returned Monday, allowing proceedings to resume. The bill passed with unanimous Republican support and opposition from most Democrats.
Several Democrats declined police escorts to prevent another exodus, spending the night in the Capitol in solidarity with Rep. Nicole Collier, who refused to sign a permission form allowing her to leave.
“I’m too enraged to cry,” Collier admitted after the vote, emphasizing her commitment to fighting for marginalized Texans.
The Capitol was briefly evacuated due to a social media threat, though Democratic lawmakers remained inside.
Abbott announced plans to introduce legislation penalizing future quorum denials, stating, “Texas lawmakers cannot hijack governance by fleeing the state.”
Protesters gather in the rotunda outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol as lawmakers debate a redrawn U.S. congressional map in Texas during a special session, Aug. 20, 2025, in Austin, Texas.Eric Gay/AP
Republicans celebrated the bill’s passage, with Rep. Katrina Pierson dismissing Democratic objections as outdated and baseless.
Abbott lauded GOP lawmakers for their persistence, contrasting it with what he called Democrats’ “futile” absence. He pledged to sign the bill upon Senate approval.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, advocating for retaliatory redistricting in his state, criticized Abbott as Trump’s “loyal lapdog” and vowed action. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul similarly signaled readiness, though changes there may take years.
California’s legislature will review redistricting proposals Thursday, escalating the national battle over congressional boundaries.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
