Greg Abbott Threatens to 'Eliminate' Almost Every Texas Democratic Seat

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 11, 2025 at 11:22 PM EDT


Texas Republican Governor Gregg Abbott has warned Democrats that he could "eliminate" 10 of his state's 12 Democratic-held seats if the two parties were to launch a nationwide battle to redraw congressional maps.

Why It Matters

Democrats and Republicans in the Lone Star State are embroiled in an escalating showdown over the GOP's efforts to redraw the congressional map to gain five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as the 2026 midterms loom. President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Texas Republicans' redistricting efforts.

His Republicans face vulnerabilities ahead of next year's elections and a new poll showing the president's approval rating suddenly dropping among conservatives will increase Republican worries about the midterms, and raise the stakes for both parties as they wrangle over congressional maps.

What To Know

Abbott, in comments aired by KWTX News 10, said Democrats would lose any nationwide battle over redrawing congressional maps because blue states have fewer Republican districts to play with. "All those big, blue states, they've already gerrymandered. Look at the map of Illinois, look at the map of California, New York and Massachusetts and so many other blue states, they gerrymandered a long time ago, they've got nothing left with regard to what they can do," Abbott said. "And know this, if California tries to gerrymander five more districts, listen, Texas has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our state. We can play that game more than they can because they have fewer Republican districts in their states," Abbott said.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/us-texas-gregg-abbott-redistricting-threat-democrats-2112076