Texas Senate just okayed a Trump plan to help Republicans maintain its majority in Congress

The Texas Senate has given a green signal to a plan which if approved may help the Republicans to maintain their majority in Congress.The senators voted along party lines to pass the map 18-11 shortly after midnight on Saturday, following more than eight hours of debate. It now heads to the governor's office for final approval.

The map, strongly backed by President Donald Trump, is intended to help the GOP preserve its slim majority in Congress during the 2026 midterm elections. It creates five additional districts that would give Republicans an advantage.

Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the measure into law soon, though Democrats have pledged to fight it in court. The push for the plan by Trump and the Republican-controlled Legislature led to a dramatic two-week walkout by state Democrats and set off a wave of redistricting battles across the country.


In the Texas Senate, Democrats attempted a last-ditch effort to stall the bill, planning to extend debate into the early morning hours. Senate Democratic leader Carol Alvarado announced she would filibuster the legislation with a lengthy speech, but the chance never came. After a dinner break, Republicans accused her of breaking Senate rules by fundraising off the planned filibuster, effectively blocking her from proceeding.

The showdown, marked by walkouts, threats of arrest, and hours of debate, eventually ended with Republicans pushing the measure through. Democrats argued that the map violated the Voting Rights Act by weakening minority voting power, while Republicans insisted it was legal and essential to maintaining their majority.

The fight in Texas quickly drew national attention. In California, Democrats moved forward with their own redistricting plan, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed and will now go to voters in November. Newsom described it as a direct response to Texas, while Abbott dismissed the California plan as unconstitutional.

With Trump urging GOP-led states such as Indiana and Missouri to follow Texas’ example, the battle over congressional maps has become central to the fight for control of the U.S. House.

Republicans currently control both houses of Congress and the party's legislators largely operate to carry out Trump's wishes.

Beleaguered Democrats are hoping that the unpopularity of many of Trump's policies will help spark a takeover of the lower house. If Democrats did win, they would immediately gain power to investigate Trump and his controversial government members