White House Pushes Texas to Redistrict, Hoping to Blunt Democratic Gains

A rare mid-decade redistricting push has unnerved some Texas Republicans, who worry a drive to harm Democrats could end up endangering G.O.P. incumbents in 2026.


Any attempt at a mid-decade redistricting would require the Texas Legislature to approve new maps. Desiree Rios for The New York Times

By J. David Goodman and Shane Goldmacher
Reporting from Houston and Shane Goldmacher from New York
June 9, 2025

President Trump’s political team is encouraging Republican leaders in Texas to examine how House district lines in the state could be redrawn ahead of next year’s midterm elections to try to save the party’s endangered majority, according to people in Texas and Washington who are familiar with the effort.

The push from Washington has unnerved some Texas Republicans, who worry that reworking the boundaries of Texas House seats to turn Democratic districts red by adding reliably Republican voters from neighboring Republican districts could backfire in an election that is already expected to favor Democrats. … Rather than flip the Democratic districts, new lines could endanger incumbent Republicans.

But a person close to the president, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to talk publicly, nevertheless urged a “ruthless” approach and said Mr. Trump would welcome any chance to pick up seats in the midterms. The president would pay close attention to those in his party who help or hurt that effort, the person warned.

At an “emergency” meeting on Monday night in the Capitol, congressional Republicans from Texas professed little interest in redrawing their districts, according to a person briefed on the gathering who was not authorized to comment publicly. The 20-minute meeting, organized by Representative Michael McCaul, a senior member of the state delegation, focused on the White House push.

{snip}

Megan Mineiro contributed reporting from Washington.

J. David Goodman is the Houston bureau chief for The Times, reporting on Texas and Oklahoma.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/j-david-goodman

Shane Goldmacher is a Times national political correspondent.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/shane-goldmacher