JOHN DICKERSON: Republicans can only afford to lose three seats in the House in next year's election, or they will lose control of the body. The president's party traditionally loses more than 20. To improve the odds, President Trump has been pressuring Texas Republicans to redraw congressional district maps to help the party win more seats in the midterm elections. Jason Allen is at the Texas Capitol, where lawmakers are meeting in a special session to debate the issue.
PROTESTER: This house!
PROTESTERS: Our House!
JASON ALLEN: Texas Democrats rallied in front of the state Capitol Thursday, nervous about what they see as a power grab.
BEOT O’ROURKE: Thick as thieves. They work on this right now in broad daylight before our eyes…
JASON ALLEN: Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke was among the Democratic leaders, urging voters to fight what they see as a state trying to influence the outcome of next year's midterm elections by redrawing congressional districts. It's usually done every ten years after a U.S. Census. The next one is not until 2030. Democrat state representative Gina Hinojosa.
GINA HINOJOSA: This is the beginning of that. Rigging the elections before they happen, so that there is a predetermined outcome and Republicans maintain control of Congress, which is right now in play.
ALLEN: President Trump is looking to pick up seats in multiple states to give Republicans an advantage. In Texas, lawmakers are looking around the edges of major cities where they may be able to flip seats from blue to red.
DONALD TRUMP: And in one case, it's 2 or 3. And Texas would be five.
ALLEN: Democrat state leaders expressed concern as the hearing opened Thursday.
BARBARA GERVIN-HAWKINS: I'm wondering: why must we do this?
CODY VASUT: It is prudent and proper for the legislative committees to take up the items that the governor has designated.
KYLE KONDIK: I could see why Republicans could look at this- the current map and say, hey, we could do better on this map than just having 25 seats.
ALLEN: Kyle Kondik is with the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. He points out Democratic-majority states like California could respond using the same tactic. Although its state constitution could make it more difficult. Redrawing maps also isn't without risk, creating a ripple effect on districts that parties already control.
KONDIK: …spreading out your voters a little bit more, you do run the risk of drawing some extra districts that you think you're going to win, but maybe you don't win.
ALLEN: And this has been a contentious hearing still happening just down the hall from us. Republicans have pointed out this is something Governor Greg Abbott asked them to take a look at after he received a letter from the Justice Department that said some current district maps, the way they're drawn up, may be unconstitutional because they're based on race.
DICKERSON: Jason Allen, in Austin. Thank you, Jason.
. steve malzberg
. steve malzberg
