Democrats Launch Anti-Redistricting Initiative in Texas

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has announced an initiative to mobilize opposition to mid-decade redistricting effort in Texas. The DNC is targeting what it calls a “scheme” by Governor Greg Abbott (R) and President Donald Trump (R) to “rig the Texas maps.”

According to plans shared with ABC News, the DNC will deploy 30,000 volunteers to call “persuadable Republican Texas voters” in GOP-held districts, urging them to reject the state’s effort to redraw the congressional boundaries.

Volunteers will also contact lawmakers, organize public comments, and attend both in-person and virtual events.

Ken Martin, the DNC Chair, commented that “the DNC is all hands on deck to hold Donald Trump and Greg Abbott accountable for their scheme to use the tragic Texas floods as cover to redraw the Texas maps in a last-ditch effort to save the Republican majority.” “Republicans know that the only way they hold onto the majority is by rigging the system, but it won’t work.”

The initiative comes as Texas lawmakers meet for a special session called by Governor Abbott to address flood relief, property taxes, standardized testing, and redistricting “in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.”

Earlier this month, the DOJ told Texas that four majority-minority districts represented by Democrats were “unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.”

President Trump has openly said he wants Texas to redraw maps to add five GOP congressional seats, which Democrats have criticized. In contrast Republican leaders have praised the move, calling it an advancement of his “America First agenda.”

Texas Democratic House Caucus Leader Gene Wu (D) praised the DNC’s new organizing push in a statement, calling it “exactly the type of partnership Texas Democrats need.”

Governor Abbott’s office has dismissed Democratic criticism, saying he is focused on “delivering results on issues important to Texans, such as flood relief, property tax cuts, and the elimination of the STAAR test.”