The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 8, 2025
With sinking approval ratings and the 2026 midterms looming, President Donald Trump asked Texas legislators to further gerrymander Congressional maps and preserve a GOP advantage in the U.S. House. Sinking to the challenge, Democratic states are threatening to cheat in their states, too.
States rarely redistrict mid-decade. Trump’s unfavorable ratings reached 56% in a July 28th Economist/YouGov poll, and with only a 219 to 212 GOP advantage in the U.S. House, Trump asked the Texas legislature for help.
The GOP already has 25 of the state’s 38 U.S. House seats, but July 30th the legislature unveiled a map targeting Democratic districts in Austin, Dallas,Houston and south Texas to gain an extra five GOP seats, according to the Texas Tribune. Ohio, another GOP-dominated state, is also redistricting, and Florida Governor Ron Desantis suggested his state’s Congressional map may have QUOTE “defects that need to be remedied.”
Leaders in Blue states, including California, Illinois, Maryland and New York, have threatened to counteract gerrymandered GOP gains. While California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened, his state uses a constitutionally-protected independent redistricting commission, as do six other blue states, making it harder to game the system.
We have all our Redistricting Week reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Pew Research – (2022) With legislative redistricting at a crucial stage, most Americans don’t feel strongly about it
American Democracy Minute – Will Texas and Ohio Redraw Congressional Districts Before the 2026 Midterms?
The Hill – Trump’s net approval rating hits new low of second term
CBS News – Trump wants Texas to redraw its congressional map to pick up more GOP seats. Here’s what to know.
Associated Press – Trump tells Texas Republicans to redraw the state congressional map to help keep House majority
The Hill – Here are the states to watch in the redistricting arms race
NPR News – Texas Republicans release a redistricting plan that could achieve Trump’s aims
Texas Tribune – Texas House Republicans unveil new congressional map that looks to pick up five GOP seats
U.S. House of Represenatives – Party Breakdown
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause , Fair Districts PA, Campaign Legal Center
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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