Abbott signs redistricting bill, creating 5 GOP-leaning seats

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, on Friday signed into law a redistricting bill into law that will give Republicans five more congressional seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

The new congressional map was completed mid-decade, instead of following the decennial U.S. Census, The Associated Press reported. The redistricting resulted in Texas state House Democrats fleeing to other states to prevent a quorum for the bill to be passed. The Democrats returned for the second special legislative session, allowing Republicans to pass the bill.

Before Texas passed the new map, California passed a bill asking voters to approve new Democratic districts to counter any Republican gains in Texas.