Beto O’Rourke says Democrats ‘have to be absolutely ruthless about getting back in power’

Host Jake Tapper and O'Rourke were discussing redistricting plans ahead of the 2026 midterms. The Texas GOP has a special session slated to begin on Monday during which they intend to redraw the state's congressional maps.

At President Trump's urging, the Texas lawmakers are looking to adjust district lines to create more GOP voter majority districts. Texas has 25 Republican reps out of their total 38 with Democrats holding the remaining 12. Trump thinks Texas could deliver 5 more GOP seats.

"Match fire with fire," O'Rourke said. "I think Democrats in the past, too often have been more concerned with being right than being in power. And we've seen Republicans only care about being in power regardless of what is right."

"So you support the Newsom effort," asked Jake Tapper, "because California right now has an independent commission that does districts in as fair a way as possible and nonpartisan as possible. You're saying Democrats should, even though you don't approve of it, Democrats should do it too."

California Governor Gavin Newsom has said that California should redraw its maps as well. Congressional district lines in that state are in the hands of an independent commission, and not lawmakers. California holds 52 seats in Congress, 43 of which are in Democratic control. Newsom wants the state to pass a law to allow lawmakers to redraw maps or to launch a ballot measure asking voters to change the state constitution which requires the independent commission.

"We have to get serious," O'Rourke replied. "We have to be absolutely ruthless about getting back in power. So yes, in California, in Illinois, in New York, wherever we have the trifecta of power, we have to use that to its absolute extent. And then the last thing: this may end up biting Republicans in the ass. You have the possibility that they will disperse Republican voters to make up these three or four or five new congressional districts and put those districts in play.

"So in Texas, we've got to get out there and register and meet the voters who are going to decide the outcomes in these next elections, if they're successful with this redistricting. Our group, powered by people, is doing this right now on the ground. We can't wait for 2026—we've got to do the work right now in 2025."

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett has spoken out against it, calling the redrawing of district maps "discriminatory." The Texas GOP will not be able to break up districts that, per the Voting Rights Act, must contain majority-minority so that minority voters can elect representatives their particular racial demographic roundly prefers.