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Last week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33) and eight other Texas Democrats to introduce the Anti-Rigging Act of 2025. The bill seeks to end the anti-democratic practice of mid-decade redistricting unless mandated by a court order—ensuring fairer, more transparent elections for all Americans. 

On July 9, at Donald Trump’s urging, Governor Abbott called a special legislative session in Texas to push through a racist and partisan redistricting plan—using flood relief as political cover, even as ongoing floods have already killed more than 100 Texans. These are the same maps Republicans passed in 2021, when they controlled both the governorship and the legislature. 

"Instead of focusing on providing necessary resources for emergency preparedness and prevention for the state of Texas or support for Central Texas families after the tragic Kerr flooding that has taken well over a hundred lives, Republicans are focused on more gerrymandering. Donald Trump recognizes there will be an electoral backlash from the bill he signed last week which kicks millions of Americans off their healthcare and gives the rich massive, permanent tax cuts, so he instructed Governor Greg Abbott to rig the rules by prematurely redistricting Texas and adding 5 more Republican-leaning seats in Congress," said Congresswoman Escobar. "The Governor should focus on the significant and real challenges Texans face. Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around."