In a desperate power grab to preserve Republican control of the U.S. House in the 2026 elections, President Trump is demanding Republican elected officials in Texas and other states redraw congressional district boundaries. He aims to deprive Black and Hispanic voters — most of whom tend to support Democrats — of the ability to elect their favored candidates.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and his fellow Republicans, who hold the majority in both houses of the state legislature, are going along with Trump’s wishes.

Abbott called a special session of the legislature to adopt a new map unveiled last Wednesday, which redraws congressional district boundaries in a way that gives Republicans an excellent chance of picking up as many as five additional U.S. House seats. This means Republicans would control of 30 of the 38 seats Texas holds.

Dozens of Democratic members of the Texas state House have left the state in a move to prevent the chamber from voting on the new congressional district boundaries that disenfranchise many Black and Hispanic Texans. The state House can only act if 100 of its 150 members are present.

Democrats hold 62 seats, and at least 51 have left the state, a spokesman said.

Abbott threatened to remove absent Democrats from office if they didn’t show up to vote on the new district map Monday afternoon, but Democrats said he had no power to oust lawmakers. Democratic House members also face $500 fines for each day they are absent from the special session.

After the absence of Democrats prevented the state House from voting on redistricting Monday, Abbott said he has “ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest and return to the House chamber” any of the absent Democratic members the department can find.

Democratic........

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