The Texas state Senate, led by Republicans, approved new congressional maps after a lengthy process featuring significant Democratic objections and stirring nationwide attention to redistricting.
The newly approved maps, aimed at reinforcing the Republican presence in the U.S. Congress, await Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature to become law. Abbott, a supporter of the plan, has received backing from former President Donald Trump.
Democrats have promised to challenge the measure in court.
Trump was the initial advocate for Texas to revise its congressional districts, asserting that Republicans should gain five additional seats. The redistricting adjusts boundaries in major cities and along Texas’s border to create 30 districts Trump had won by large margins last election.
The GOP currently controls 25 of the state’s 38 congressional districts.
From the outset, Republicans have openly approached this redistricting as a strategy to boost their power in a closely divided House. Democrats need to gain just three seats in the 2026 elections to claim the majority.
Democrats criticized the Republican move, arguing that it sets a risky standard by redrawing the lines before 2031, which is when it’s typically done, and claim the maps disadvantage minority groups. Republicans counter these claims.
While Democratic actions temporarily halted progress in the state House earlier this month by fleeing to deny a quorum, prompting Abbott to call a special session, the Republican-led Senate managed to proceed unaffected.
The move drew swift condemnation from opponents of the measure.
“This is not democracy, this is disgraceful,” State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt said on X after a Democratic attempt at a fillibuster failed.
Democrats had planned to push back the Senate vote into the morning Saturday in a last-ditch attempt to delay passage.
Earlier, 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.
Sen. Charles Perry said it “appears to be potentially unlawful, at least unethical, using state resources for a campaign purpose.”
With Abbott poised to sign the new maps into law, the spotlight shifts to California, where Democratic lawmakers have their own proposal to redraw their state’s congressional boundaries as political retribution for Texas’ move. Unlike in Texas, where regular legislation is enough to change the maps, California Democrats’ proposal must also be approved by the voters in a special election this fall in order to take effect.
