The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee has launched an initiative to combat what it calls the “illegal gerrymandering” of the state’s Congressional districts.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the redrawing of the maps during a special legislative session scheduled to begin this Monday. He added the matter to the session’s agenda after President Donald Trump urged Texas to engage in a last-minute redistricting effort to contain expected GOP losses in the midterms.
The House Democrats’ defensive initiative includes the launch of the website StopTheTexasSteal.com. The site will serve as a central organizing platform to combat what the THDCC called a “scheme to exploit the recent Central Texas flooding disaster as a pretext to rig the state’s congressional maps and strip Texans of their representation.”
Texas House Democrats also plan to fight back by potentially staging a walkout of the session.
“We’re preparing our members to use every tool available — including breaking quorum if necessary — to force Abbott to focus on flood relief instead of Trump’s power grab,” reads the digital hub, which also serves as a fundraising platform.
The special session includes emergency provisions addressing flood relief and alerts along with a redux of the failed anti-trans “bathroom bill,” anti-abortion legislation, among other controversial measures.
As the Current wrote Thursday, Trump sees the Texas redistricting as a way to stave off a potential blue wave in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms as his approval rating reaches record lows.
Redistricting was not initially listed among Abbott’s priorities when he called the special session. Instead, the governor added it at Trump’s request as Texas recovers from the devastating July 4 floods that took at least 130 lives in Hill Country. House Democrats argue that Trump and Abbott are using the tragedy to sneak in a “power grab.”
“As Hill Country families still search for missing loved ones and rebuild their lives, Greg Abbott and Donald Trump are prioritizing a political power grab, promising to steal as many as five Congressional seats, over the flood infrastructure and warning systems that could have saved lives,” the website’s homepage reads. The statement is under the heading, “This is What Stealing an Election Looks Like.”
To spearhead the opposition effort, House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu has appointed a new interim board to head up the House Democratic Campaign Committee, including Reps. Senfronia Thompson, Chris Turner, John Bucy and Erin Gamez. “Let’s be clear about what is happening: Governor Abbott is using the pain and suffering of flood victims as political cover to steal elections for himself and Donald Trump,” Wu said in a statement. “This isn’t just about lines on a map — it’s about lives on the line. Instead of focusing on rebuilding communities and preventing the next tragedy, he is prioritizing a cynical power grab that will silence the voices of millions of Texans.”
Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
Texas redistricting key to Trump’s crusade against potentially looming blue wave
Texas House Democrats reportedly weighing walkout to prevent Trump’s redistricting plans
As Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for response
Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities
Respected election watcher warns Texas GOP’s redistricting efforts could blow up in their faces
This article appears in Jul 10-23, 2025.
