Texas
On Sunday, August 3, 2025, more than 50 Democratic Texas state representatives walked out of the state house in an attempt to block a controversial vote they believed to be detrimental to the 2030 election. According to the New York Times, Texas Republicans, “at the behest of President Trump”, drew new district maps that gave them five additional U.S. House seats to be passed in the state legislature. The Democratic representatives fled the state, stayed in Illinois and California, and for almost 2 weeks they denied Republicans quorum and held off the vote.
“We’re doing exactly what we’re elected to do. I didn’t swear an oath to Donald Trump, I swore an oath to the Constitution.” Said Democratic Texas Representative James Talarico.
Once the Democrats returned, Republicans ordered them to sign a slip that permitted a police escort in order for them to leave the capitol, to make sure they didn’t leave to prolong the quorum. Democratic representative Nicole Collier, who was later joined by several of her colleagues, was the only representative who refused to submit to a police escort and stayed overnight in the state capitol.
“These maps that are rigged to have the outcome that Trump wants are harmful to my community. They will take away the voice of my district once these maps pass.” Collier told CBS News in an online interview while protesting at the capitol.
While the Democrats’ walkout and standoff stalled Republican legislation and brought national attention to the issue of gerrymandering, Republicans eventually passed a new congressional map for the state of Texas.
California
Shortly after the passing of new Texas maps, the California government acted fast to address the redistricting. On August 21, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Election Rigging Response Act into law. This act includes a requirement titled “Proposition 50”, which requires voter approval to put the act to work. This measure would temporarily authorize the use of redrawn district voter maps to favor the Democratic party between 2026-2030. As it requires voter approval, “Prop 50” will appear as a California constitutional amendment on the ballot for a special election on November 4, 2025.
While some may argue that the redistricting is just another form of gerrymandering and morally wrong, others will say that it is a last resort and inventive way to fight back against Texas Republicans—But how can people trust that California will revert the maps back to normal after 2030?—This is a main concern of the California population and a large push factor for voters. However, because House Democrats voted to ban gerrymandering in 2017, the majority of California’s population believe their Democratic governor to be trustworthy and against the practice of gerrymandering. Overall, redistricting wars are a risky game that voters are skeptical to play.
Impacts on Upcoming Elections
With new red partisan congressional maps in Texas and potential blue leaning district maps in California, elections leading up to 2030 will be majorly affected. Because Republicans currently have the majority in the House of Representatives, the upcoming midterm elections will be a chance for Democrats to take back control of the House and will be crucial in determining whether liberal or conservative legislature will be passed in the future. All in all, if the other side broke the rules first, is playing dirty justified?
