The Texas Senate gave final approval to a new, Republican-leaning congressional voting map early Saturday, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. President Trump has pushed for the map to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. It has five new districts that would favor Republicans. Abbott, a Republican, is expected to quickly sign it into law, though Democrats have vowed to challenge it in court, the AP reports.
The effort by Trump and Texas' Republican-majority Legislature prompted state Democrats to hold a two-week walkout and kicked off a wave of redistricting efforts across the country. Democrats had prepared for a final show of resistance, with plans to push the Senate vote into the early morning hours in a last-ditch attempt to delay passage. State Sen. Carol Alvarado, leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, announced on social media that she planned to filibuster the bill with a long speech and intended to speak for several hours. But just when she expected to start, the Senate broke for a long dinner break.
When members returned, Alvarado never had a chance to filibuster because Republicans accused her of breaking Senate rules by attempting to fundraise off the coming filibuster. GOP Sen. Charles Perry said it "appears to be potentially unlawful, at least unethical, using state resources for a campaign purpose." Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, another Republican, declined to answer Democrats' questions on what precedent there was for blocking a filibuster, the Washington Post reports. "Shutting down a filibuster over a fundraising email is unprecedented," Democratic Sen. Sarah Eckhardt later said in a post on X. "It exposes the hypocrisy of Republicans, who will turn around and raise millions off stealing Texans' votes while silencing their voices.""
story continues below
Democrats had already delayed the bill's passage during hours of debate, pressing Republican Sen. Phil King, the measure's sponsor, on the proposal's legality, with many alleging that the redrawn districts violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters' influence based on race. King vehemently denied that accusation, saying, "I had two goals in mind: That all maps would be legal and would be better for Republican congressional candidates in Texas."
- The showdown has also inflamed a broader, state-by-state redistricting battle, with governors from both parties pledging to redraw congressional maps. California Democrats approved legislation Thursday calling for a special election in November for residents to vote on a redrawn congressional map designed to help Democrats win five more House seats next year. Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly signed it.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
