Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill on Friday that redraws the state's congressional map, a move aimed at strengthening Republican representation in the U.S. Congress. The signing follows the state Senate's approval of the bill last week and comes amid a nationwide redistricting effort.

In a social media video, Abbott stated, "Texas is now more red in the United States Congress." This redistricting effort is part of a strategy to help Republicans gain up to five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm elections.

Typically, congressional maps are redrawn every ten years after the census. However, this mid-decade redistricting was influenced by President Donald Trump, who urged Texas lawmakers to make changes to bolster the Republican majority. The new map is expected to create a 30-8 split in Texas' congressional delegation.

While Republicans argue that the new district lines were drawn based on political performance and legal considerations, Democrats contend that the changes unfairly target voters of color. They claim the map violates federal law by diluting the voting power of Hispanic and Black communities.

The Texas bill faced delays after over 50 Democratic state House members staged a walkout, preventing a quorum needed for a vote. However, the bill eventually passed along party lines after Democratic lawmakers returned from Illinois, where they had fled to protest the legislation.

The new congressional map does not require voter approval but is already facing legal challenges. Groups representing minority voters have filed lawsuits seeking to block the implementation of the map. A three-judge panel is set to hear these challenges in early October, ahead of the filing deadline for the 2026 midterms in December.

In response to the redistricting, California's legislature has also approved a plan aimed at gaining five additional congressional seats for Democrats, which will be put to a vote in November.

Abbott's actions have drawn criticism from Democrats, including Texas Democratic Party chair Kendall Scudder, who accused the governor of prioritizing Trump's political agenda over the interests of Texans. Scudder stated, "They love to boast about how ‘Texas Tough’ they are, but when Donald Trump made one call, they bent over backwards to prioritize his politics over Texans."

This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.