Texas has now approved the drawing of a new electoral map favouring Republicans, which has since fuelled a very alarming theory about President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday (20 August), the Texas House approved the new congressional maps, which created five additional Republican-leaning districts following an 88-52 party-line vote.
The new maps in Texas have sparked a major uproar over gerrymandering, which is practised by both main parties and is legal unless ruled to be racially motivated - something which Texas Democrats claim has happened.
They allege that the redrawing of the maps before the next population count in 2030 was being done along racial lines, but Republicans have rejected such an argument.
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Voting maps that were approved back in 2021 after the last population count are still being litigated over claims of racial discrimination.
What has Trump said about the new electoral map?
Taking to Truth Social earlier today (21 August), the 79-year-old Republican beamed: "Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself. Texas never lets us down."
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He added that 'Florida, Indiana, and others' are looking to do 'the same thing'.
"More seats equals less Crime, a great Economy, and a STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT," he continued, in his signature online typing style. "It means Happiness and Peace. But Republicans, there is one thing even better - STOP MAIL-IN VOTING, a total fraud that has no bounds.
"Also, go to PAPER BALLOTS before it is too late - At one tenth the cost, faster, and more reliable. If we do these TWO things, we will pick up 100 more seats, and the CROOKED game of politics is over."
Trump concluded the post in his ever-patriotic manner, writing: "God Bless America!!!"
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What are people saying about the new electoral map?
One X user lamented: "So Democracy is officially dead because we have sore losers in office. Why are they so worried about midterms if they are supposedly doing such an amazing job and everyone LOVES them for it? They know why and so does everyone else."
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A second hit out: "Gerrymandering at its most obvious, must be scared of losing."
"He really is teaching Republicans to win, exactly as he promised," wrote a third, while a fourth shared: "Trump praised Texas’ new gerrymandered map designed to rig the midterms for Republicans."
What is 'gerrymandering'?
In short, gerrymandering, defined in the context of representative electoral systems, is the political manipulation of electoral district boundaries to advantage a party, group, or socioeconomic class within the constituency.
Rhiannon Ingle