More than 5,000 people gathered on Saturday at the Capitole in Austin to protest against President Donald Trump and the Plan of the Legislative Assembly of Texas to redraw the districts of the State Congress to give the Republicans an advantage during the mid-term elections of 2026.
The new map, which has sparked a quorum break of almost two weeks by the Democrats of the Texas Chamber, should give Republicans at least five other seats in the Chamber of American Representatives.
More than 50 Democrats in the Chamber initially fled the state earlier this month to prevent the adoption of the new card during the first special session of the Legislative Assembly. On Thursday, they listed their conditions to return to the House and reported their intention to participate in the second special state session, which began on Friday.
The Greg Casar Congress, a Democrat in Austin, praised the actions of the legislators during the protest on Saturday.
“If Trump and Abbott had their way, they would have passed these cards weeks ago,” Casar told an enthusiastic crowd. “Trump has no plan to win the elections, he has a plan to fake elections.”
The Congress member referred to the continuous call of the White House to the States led by the Republicans to redistribution, including Ohio and Florida. The States led by Democrats have reported their own intention to do the same. California Governor Gavin Newsom took the lead: The Sunshine State revealed her own newly offered cards on Friday.
During the rally on Saturday, the former American representative Beto O’Rourke of El Paso told the crowd that the Republicans of “Gerrymander” in several states come from the fear of reprisals.
“If they cannot maintain their purchase on power at the (US) Room of Representatives, there will be a check on their anarchy, their responsibility for their crimes and their corruption,” said O’Rourke.
This responsibility could resemble Trump’s dismissal in the American house. If the Democrats take control of the room after the mid-term of 2026, the republican president of the House Mike Johnson said that he thought it was a very real threat.
For the moment, however, it is a distant possibility. The member of the Lloyd Doggett Congress (D-Austin) told the immediate objective of the Democrats demonstrators is to stop what is before them. But Doggett has also recognized that planning in advance is necessary.
“If, despite our unshakable opposition, his redistribution bill is signed next week – and some think it will be – the question is” what do we do then? “Besides Boo,” said Doggett.
Doggett thinks that the best thing that Democrats can do is vote in 2026, even in republican districts. He told the crowd that Trump not part of the re -election could benefit the Democrats.
“He will not be on the ballot to shoot the Maga vote,” said Doggett. “And in the redesigned district which is closest to the one we are just holding, the Hispanics have a large majority and Biden has obtained 49% against Trump.”
The Democrats of the Texas Chamber is expected to return to Austin for the second special session, where they will not have the figures to prevent the push of the Republicans from implementing new Congress cards.
