Protests sweep 34 states over Trump's push to redraw maps in Texas
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Protests are erupting across 34 US states as Democrats and allied groups rally against Trump-backed redistricting efforts in Texas and other states.
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A map of US Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Aug. 1, 2025 (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)
Demonstrations are set to unfold across 34 states on Saturday as opponents of Republican redistricting initiatives rally under the banner "Fight the Trump Takeover." The central gathering will be held in Austin, Texas, with parallel protests planned in cities and towns nationwide.
According to the movement's website, "Texas House Democrats are blocking a redistricting vote in the Texas House right now to Stop the Trump Takeover. But Trump has made it clear that he's not stopping at Texas. He's targeting Missouri, Ohio, Florida, and every state he can twist to help him steal Congress."
Texas as the Flashpoint
The uproar stems from a proposal by Texas Republicans, reportedly encouraged by President Donald Trump, to push through a mid-decade redistricting plan that could deliver five additional Republican-held House seats. Democrats responded by leaving the state, depriving the legislature of a quorum needed to advance the measure.
This tactic is not unprecedented. In 2003, Texas Democrats staged a similar walkout over redistricting plans engineered by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, an episode that led to years of legal battles and a landmark Supreme Court ruling in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry. The 2025 showdown is reminiscent of those earlier clashes, revealing how partisan map-drawing has become one of the fiercest battlegrounds in US politics.
Speaking to NBC News, Drucilla Tigner, executive director of Texas For All, framed the dispute as part of a larger democratic struggle: "Though this fight started in Texas, it doesn't end here. This isn't just about redistricting or one state's politics. It's about the future of our democracy."
Read more: Millions join 'No Kings' protest in defiance of Trump military parade
Democratic Countermeasures
In a countermove, California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed that Democrats in his state are preparing their own redistricting plan. "The plan for new California maps would only take effect if Texas or other red states pushed ahead with their own plans for partisan redistricting," he said.
Other Democratic strongholds, including New York and Illinois, are also weighing retaliatory steps, raising fears of a nationwide redistricting arms race. Editorials have warned that tit-for-tat gerrymandering could further erode voter trust, though Democratic leaders argue they are compelled to respond in kind.
Texas Democrats signaled on Thursday that they may return after nearly two weeks out of state if Republicans agree to end the special session and if California proceeds with a map that offsets Texas by adding five Democratic seats.
A National Movement
"The incredible support we're seeing, not just back home in Texas, but from Democrats, Republicans, and independents across the country, proves this fight is bigger than any one state," Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democrats, told The Guardian. "We're defending our entire country from the Trump takeover, and I'm honored to stand with every patriotic American who refuses to let extremists rig the system."
The Democratic National Committee, Indivisible, and MoveOn are coordinating the demonstrations. DNC chair Ken Martin argued that Trump's maneuver is a strategy to insulate himself politically. "Trump knows the only way he can hold the majority after his budget betrayal is by changing the rules in the middle of the game to avoid accountability for ripping healthcare and food away from millions of Americans," Martin told NBC News.
Building on Past Protests
Organizers note that Saturday's mobilization builds on earlier demonstrations during Trump's second term. April's "Hands Off" rallies drew crowds at more than 1,000 sites, while June's "No Kings" protests coincided with Trump's military parade in Washington and brought millions into the streets across 2,000 locations. The growing protest infrastructure, known as the "50501 movement" (50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement), has become one of the largest networks of anti-Trump resistance in U.S. history.
With another mass day of action already planned for Labor Day on September 1, organizers say the protests are not only about redistricting but also about sustaining grassroots momentum to defend democratic norms.
