Trump says Texas redistricting plan could deliver 5 more GOP House seats

President Donald Trump expressed confidence this week that Texas Republicans could gain as many as five additional seats in the US House of Representatives through a redistricting plan expected to be taken up during a special legislative session later this month.

“I think we’ll get five,” Trump told reporters, according to The Hill. “And there could be some other states we’re going to get another three, or four or five in addition. Texas would be the biggest one.” 

Trump also noted that it would be “okay” if left-wing states like California or New York pursued redistricting plans of their own.

The president’s remarks follow Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement that redistricting will be part of the upcoming special session. Abbott announced last week that the state will introduce “a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the US Department of Justice.” 

Although redistricting traditionally occurs every ten years, Trump’s team is reportedly encouraging Texas to redraw its maps sooner in order to expand the GOP’s House razor-thin majority ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Democrats have strongly criticized the move. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has stated that Democrats are considering redistricting efforts themselves to win back the House, accused Abbott of “conspiring” with Trump and congressional Republicans to “try to rig the election and disenfranchise millions of voters.” 

“Democrats are going to push back aggressively because it’s the right thing to do,” Jeffries said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom also responded to Trump’s comments, suggesting his state may take similar action to increase Democratic representation. “Two can play this game,” Newsom posted on X. 

Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett characterized the move as intentional discrimination, claiming that “Texas has always been found to be intentionally discriminatory” and that redistricting is an effort to “dilute the voices of people of color.”