Austin, Texas (AP) — It sorted the balance of power in Washington, the two most populous states, California and Texas, addressing a political advantage that could threaten President Donald Trump’s agenda at the midpoint of the second term.
Democrats in Texas on Monday It hinders the state’s House of Representatives At least for now, it’s going forward Redrawn council map Trump called for a Republican mid-term outlook for 2026 to shake up his political position.
In California, Democrats encouraged by Gov. Gavin Newsom Considering a new political map It could cut five House seats held by Republicans in left-leaning states, whilst strengthening democratic incumbents in other battlefield districts. The move aims to weaken the profits of Texas’ GOP, potentially shake up house control and give Democrats a counterweight to Trump on Capitol Hill.
The draft plan aims to increase the margins for California’s Democratic Party to 48 seats out of the 52 Capitol buildings. This comes from the 43 seats the party is currently holding. Approval from lawmakers and voters is required, and they may be skeptical of giving it after handing over the district to the Independent Commission years ago.
The rivalry has highlighted two states, which have been backed by years of political visions that have conflicted employment, innovation, fame and even sport. And it brought about a fierce scramble between the two major political parties nationwide, each framing their efforts as fair and fair, while skewering the other as partisans.
Ron Reynolds, a Democrat surrounded by other House Democrats in Texas and Congressional Democrats, will speak at a Democrat press conference held in Warrenville, Illinois on Monday, August 4, 2025.
“They did that to us,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, claiming that existing maps of California justify his demands in Texas.
Standoffs in Texas after Democrats leave the nation
After dozens of Democrats left Texas, the Republican-controlled House failed to establish the quorum of lawmakers needed to do business. Republican Governor Greg Abbott I made it Threats regarding member deletion Someone who lacks seats. Democrats retort that Abbott uses “smoke and mirrors” to assert legal authority he does not have.
The House soon issued a civil arrest warrant for Democrats’ absence, and Abbott ordered state police officers to help them find them, but physically outside of Texas, it exceeds the jurisdiction of state officials.
House’s chairman, Dustin Burrows, will speak at a press conference in Capitol, Austin, Texas on Monday, August 4, 2025, after failing to establish the quorum of lawmakers needed to do business with the Republican-controlled House. (via AP by Jay Janner/Austin America Stateman)
“If you keep going this path, you’ll have consequences,” House Rep. Dustin Burrows said from the floor of the room.
The Democratic rebellion and the threat of Abbott have intensified the fight over a congressional map that began in Texas but now includes a Democratic governor who redrawn the district’s map in retaliation. Their options are limited. The conflict also reflects Trump’s An aggressive view of presidential rights And his grip against the Republican Party, testing the long-standing balance of power between the federal government and individual states.
The deadlock is at Democrats’ expense, focusing on Trump’s efforts to win five more GOPLEANINES Congress seats in Texas. Before the middle period. It would strengthen his party’s chances of maintaining a majority of vulnerable US homes. Republicans currently own 25 of Texas’ 38 seats. This is an almost 2-1 advantage, already a broader partisan gap than the 2024 presidential outcome. Trump won 56.1% of Texas votes, while Democrat Kamala Harris received 42.5%.
California Pushback: Moves to Undercut GOP House Members
According to a temporary California proposal, the district is currently being held by Republican lawmakers.
The battlefield district held by Democrats, with Dave Minh, Mike Levin and Derek Tran hosting Dave Minh, Mike Levin and Derek Tran, which will boost the party’s edge to strengthen seats, sources said.
Democrats from California’s Congressional Delegation were briefed on a new map on Monday, according to people familiar with the meeting that called for anonymity to discuss private conversations.
The proposals are distributed at the same time Gavin Newsom of the Democratic government He says he wants to move forward with partisan constituencies. He says if Texas suspends its efforts, he won’t move forward.
Newsom said it would call for a special election for the first week of November. Voters will weigh a new Congress map drawn by Democrat-controlled Congress.
“California doesn’t sit vaguely and see this democracy in vain,” Newsom said Monday.
More than 1,800 miles (2,900 km) from Austin, New York, Governor Kathy Hochul appeared in Texas Democrats, claiming their cause was the people.
“We are not going to tolerate democracy stolen by modern stage horse robbers by cowboys who have broken a large number of law,” Hochur said Monday. “If Republicans are willing to rewrite the rules to give themselves an advantage, they leave us with no choice. We have to do the same. You have to fight fire with fire.”
Voting Status
In Texas, legislators who left the state refused to say how long they would last.
“We realised that when we got on the plane we were on this for a long time,” said Illinois Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher.
Jean Wu, leader of the Texas House’s Democratic Caucus, said the members would “do whatever it takes,” but added, “we don’t know what it looks like.”
Texas Democrat Jean Wu, Center, speaks to the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Congressional Democrats on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Warrenville, Illinois.
Legislative strike In many cases, it just delays the passage of your bill.when many Democrats left Texas, like in 2021. 38 days Protesting the proposed voting restrictions. Once they returned, Republicans passed the measure.
Lawmakers cannot pass bills in 150 homes without two-thirds of their members present. Democrats have held 62 seats in the majority indoors and have left the state with at least 51 seats, according to Democrats.
The Texas Supreme Court ruled that House leaders could “physically force” missing members to attend in 2021, but Democrats were not forced to bring them back to the state. After the warrant is provided. Republicans responded by adopting a $500 fine every day for lawmakers who didn’t show them.
Meanwhile, Abbott continues his unfounded claim that some lawmakers committed felony seeking money to pay potential fines to leave Texas during the session.
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Barrow was reported from Atlanta. Blood reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press author Joey Capelletti in Washington, John Hanna of Topeka, Kansas, and Andrew DeMiro of Little Rock, Arkansas, also contributed to the report.
