Trump’s desperate gerrymandering scheme backfires in Texas and Florida as voters sour on GOP

Republican-led legislatures in Texas and Florida redrew congressional maps at Donald Trump's urging, hoping to add as many as nine House seats, but the effort is running into trouble with voters. Economic strain, tariffs, mass deportation policy and the war involving Iran are all weighing on the party, and Latino voters in particular have grown unhappy with the president's immigration approach. Vice President JD Vance plans stops in Texas on Wednesday and Florida on Thursday to boost candidates, according to The Independent.

In Texas, the GOP entered the cycle holding 25 of 38 House seats and focused on the heavily Latino Rio Grande Valley, which has shifted toward Trump. Eric Flores, a onetime federal prosecutor and National Guard captain with Trump's endorsement, is running in the 34th District against five-term Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez. The district favored Trump over Kamala Harris by 10 points, yet Flores expects a close race. He has dropped a pledge to back Trump's agenda from his campaign website and told The Associated Press that emphasizing party labels loses voters. Nearby, Rep. Monica De La Cruz faces a strong challenge from Latin Grammy winner Bobby Pulido, whose top song has 619 million Spotify streams.

In Florida, Republicans hold 20 of 28 seats and want 24, with new lines built on 2024 results. Democratic campaign chair Suzan DelBene says Republicans overreached. Texas Democratic Party official Terri Burke agrees. Republican spokesman Mike Marinella points to a friendlier map, fundraising advantages and better candidates.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →