Gov. Abbott Signs GOP-Backed Texas Congressional Map Amid Legal Battles

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed into law a Republican-friendly redistricting bill that redraws the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The map, championed by President Donald Trump, is expected to give Republicans the chance to pick up as many as five additional seats in the US House.

“Today, I signed the One Big Beautiful Map into law,” Abbott wrote in a post on X, sharing a video of himself signing the legislation with a black Sharpie. “This map ensures fairer representation in Congress. Texas will be more RED in Congress.”

The move marks the conclusion of a weekslong GOP effort to finalize the new map. Republicans say the changes will strengthen their advantage in the state, while Democrats argue it undermines fair representation.

Texas Democrats left the state earlier this summer in an attempt to block the bill by denying the House a quorum. They later returned after meeting with leaders of Democratic-run states, who have advanced their own countermeasures. In California, for instance, lawmakers voted to bypass the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission and propose five new Democratic-leaning seats. That measure will go before voters in a November referendum.

Legal challenges are already underway in Texas. Several lawsuits have been filed against the new map, and a three-judge federal panel in El Paso has scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing from October 1 through 10.

The redistricting battle in Texas is expected to play a major role in shaping the fight for control of the US House in 2026.

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