Chicago – August 17, 2025
More than 5,000 people gathered at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Saturday to protest a new plan by President Trump and the Texas Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts. The new map is designed to help Republicans gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections.
The new district map caused a nearly two-week break in the Texas House, with more than 50 Democrats leaving the state to block the plan during the Legislature’s first special session. The lawmakers returned on Thursday after outlining their conditions and prepared to continue working during a second special session that began on Friday.
Congressman Greg Casar, a Democrat from Austin, spoke at the rally and praised the actions of the lawmakers. He told the crowd, “If Trump and Abbott had their way, they would’ve passed these maps weeks ago. Trump doesn’t have a plan to win the election, he has a plan to rig the election.”
Casar was referring to the White House’s call for Republican-led states, like Ohio and Florida, to change their district maps. Other Democratic-led states are also planning to redraw their districts. California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled new maps for California on Friday.
Former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke of El Paso also spoke at the rally, explaining that the Republican push to change district boundaries across several states comes from fear of losing power.
