President Donald Trump is urging several states to redraw their congressional maps to help Republicans gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaking to reporters, Trump highlighted Texas as a key state where he believes Republicans could gain five additional seats through redistricting.
During his remarks, Trump mentioned that there are four other states where Republicans could also pick up seats. He suggested that three of these states might yield one seat each, while one could provide two to three additional seats. He did not specify which states he was referring to, prompting some speculation.
In addition to supporting redistricting efforts, Trump expressed his intention to challenge any Democratic redistricting efforts in California. He criticized the state’s political landscape and indicated that his administration would take legal action if necessary to counteract any moves that might favor Democrats.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has been pushed by Trump and the Department of Justice to lead the charge in redrawing the congressional map. Abbott has called for a special legislative session to address this issue. Currently, Texas has 38 congressional seats, with 25 held by Republicans. While redistricting could make some Democrat-held seats less competitive, it could also increase the competitiveness of some Republican-held districts.
Another state on the radar for potential redistricting is Ohio, which is required by law to update its congressional map ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Meanwhile, Texas Democrats are organizing efforts to disrupt the redistricting process by staging a walkout. If enough Democrats leave the legislative session, they could prevent the passage of a redistricted map that would benefit Republicans.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the stakes are high for both parties, and the outcome of these redistricting efforts could significantly impact the balance of power in Congress.
