Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) announced on Wednesday that rezoning will be part of the upcoming legislative special session later this month.
The governor stated that this session will focus on legislation to address constitutional issues raised by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Congressional Districts.
Abbott mentioned last month that he had called for this special session to review bills that were either submitted without his approval or rejected during the previous session. Initially, rezoning was not on the agenda.
“We’ve put forth significant legislation during the recent regular session that is meant to benefit Texans for years,” Abbott said on Wednesday. “There’s still more to address, particularly following the severe flooding in the Texas Hill Country. We have to be ready for future incidents.”
This announcement follows reports that last month, President Trump’s political team was interested in mid-cycle district adjustments.
Texas won’t begin drawing a new district map until after the 2030 census, but Republicans are working to maintain their slim majority in Congress, which currently stands at 220-212, facing the usual challenges that come with election cycles for the party in power.
The decision to include district changes in the special session has drawn criticism from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who accused the governor of neglecting the effects of fatal floods in Texas and argued that it disenfranchises many voters.
With Republicans holding power in the state legislature, the governor’s office, and the state Supreme Court, it’s likely they can push through the redistricting plans despite Democratic opposition. However, the outcome in federal court is uncertain, especially given the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of Alabama’s district map in 2023 due to probable violations of the Voting Rights Act.
Another concern is whether these changes could put Republican seats in neighboring districts at risk, making them more competitive.
Jeffries expressed confidence that these redistricting efforts would ultimately benefit Democrats in several districts.
“House Democrats will fiercely resist this gerrymandering attempt, and I believe if it goes through, some incumbent House Republicans may face tough challenges in the general election,” he asserted.
Updated at 8:44 PM.
