Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in the State Capitol on Aug. 15, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Abbott pushed for the creation of a new map to adhere to President Donald Trump’s desire to not see a repeat of the 2018 election cycle, when Democrats handily regained the majority in the House and acted as a foil to the president’s legislative aspirations toward the end of his first term.
Sen. Phil King, R-Tx., carried the map in the Senate, and contended on the floor that the map generated more competitive districts, but still believed they would be won by Republicans during the 2026 midterm election cycle.
"[House bill] four, I believe, should elect more Republicans to the U.S. Congress, but I'm here to tell you, there are no guarantees," he said.
TEXAS GOP LAWMAKERS POISED TO FINALIZE TRUMP-BACKED MAP AFTER DEM REDISTRICTING WALKOUT ENDS
While Republicans control a supermajority in deep-red Texas, Democrats still need to create a quorum in the House to actually move the process along.
Dozens of Texas Democrats fled the state to stall the process, creating a national media frenzy and generating support from Democratic donors, including groups linked to George Soros and Beto O’Rourke, to help pay for their fines, travel and lodging.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
"Members, it breaks my heart to see how this illegal and rigged, mid-decade redistricting scheme is dividing our state and our country," Rep. Chris Turner, a Democrat, said. "This is Texas, it's not Washington D.C. The impulses of outside politicians and their billionaire backers shouldn't dictate what we do in this chamber, in this House."
Rep. Todd Hunter, a Republican who wrote the bill for the new map, countered that four of the five new districts were "majority-minority Hispanic," noting that each of the new districts now trended Republican. Still, he had no qualms as to why Republicans were pursuing changes to the congressional maps.
"The underlying goal of this plan is straightforward, [to] improve Republican political performance," he said.
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The Democrats’ blockade ended on Monday, when Abbott called for a second special session after their demands for California to also begin a redistricting cycle were met in an effort to nullify the map Texas Republicans were creating.
However, Abbott's push could still be nullified. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democrats passed their own new map on Thursday, which creates five new districts that lean Democratic and jeopardize the seats of Republicans.
But the map is not official yet, given that California voters will get to weigh in on Nov. 4 to decide if they want to accept the changes.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/abbott-clears-final-redistricting-hurdle-texas-senate-passes-new-trump-approved-map