Trump pushes new census amid redistricting showdown
Texas Legislators Clash Over Republican Push for Partisan Redistricting
State lawmakers in Texas are in fierce dispute over a Republican effort to enact a redistricting plan that lawmakers deem heavily partisan.
Trump Calls for a “New Census” Excluding Undocumented Immigrants
President Donald Trump ordered officials to develop a new census that would exclude people residing illegally in the United States. The White House is pressing Republican states to redraw voter maps that would favor the party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Points:
- Trump demanded a “new and highly accurate” census based on unspecified “modern day facts and figures” derived from the 2024 election.
- He emphasized that “people who are in our country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS.”
- The U.S. Constitution has required a census every ten years since 1790, including individuals residing illegally.
- The next official census is scheduled for 2030, but preparations are already underway.
- Trump’s statement did not clarify whether he referred to the regular population count or a special early survey.
The Census Determines Congressional Seats and Electoral Votes
The census informs the number of seats allocated to each state in the House of Representatives. Pew Research Center estimates that excluding unauthorized migrants in 2020 would have deprived California, Florida, and Texas of one House seat each.
It also adjusts votes in the state‑by‑state electoral college that decides presidential elections and allocates billions of dollars in federal funding.
Redistricting Sparks Threats to Democratic Lawmakers
More than 50 Texas Democrats have fled to multiple Democratic states to block the passage of the proposed blueprint during a special legislative session. Texas Republicans have threatened to arrest them, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced he had petitioned the FBI to help state and local law enforcement locate them.
Incidents of Retaliation:
- Vice President Dan Vance was scheduled to visit Indiana to discuss redistricting with Governor Mike Braun, pressuring local Republicans to secure another seat.
- Politico reported that Republicans could draw up to 10 new seats ahead of the midterms, targeting Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida.
- Some Republicans have warned that mid‑cycle partisan redistricting, known as “gerrymandering,” could make conservative lawmakers an endangered species in liberal states.
- Congressman Kevin Kiley introduced a bill to block all mid‑decade redistricting, fearing retaliation in California.
Indiana Governor says Redistricting Conversation is “Exploratory”
Governor Braun said any redistricting conversation would be “exploratory,” as the state’s maps were drawn fairly in 2021. He mentioned adhering to township lines and maintaining configurations that do not “look like an octopus.”
Democrats Vow Retaliatory Proposals in New York and California
Democratic lawmakers have vowed to retaliate with their own proposals, potentially in New York and California, the country’s largest states. The possibility of a retaliatory gerrymander in California threatens the seat of Republican congressman Kevin Kiley.
Illinois Responds to Threats Against Texas Legislators
Texas legislators were evacuated from a suburban Chicago hotel following an unspecified threat. State Representative John Bucy told NBC News the group had spent two hours outside the building but had not been diverted from pursuing their “fight for voting rights.”
Dr. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker authorized state police to guard the group, indicating bipartisan concern over the safety and security of lawmakers during this contentious period.
