Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened to push for even more GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas if Democrats continue to block a mid-decade redistricting effort sought by President Donald Trump to give his party an edge in the 2026 midterm election.
In an episode of the “Ruthless Podcast” released Friday, Abbott was asked how he expects the ongoing standoff with Democrats to end.
“The Democrats always come back,” Abbott said. “It could be tomorrow, it could be next week. It could be next month. They’re going to come back or we’ll be able to track them down. One way or the other, they’re coming back, and it’s going to end with these maps being passed.”
“If they don’t start showing up, I may start expanding it. We may make it six or seven or eight new seats we’re going to be adding on the Republican side,” he continued.
Dozens of Democrats have fled Texas, leaving the state GOP unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers needed to establish business and vote to approve the congressional map that would give Republicans five more GOP-leaning congressional seats in the Lone Star State ahead of the 2026 midterms.
