If you’re wondering why Democrats and Republicans are kicking up major dust this week over voter maps in taxes, here’s why. 

The state’s move to redraw its congressional maps could have seismic national consequences—and it’s not new.

The practice of redrawing legislative boundaries to favor one political party, known as gerrymandering, dates back to 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry approved a district so contorted it resembled a salamander. The term stuck—and so did the tactic.

Today, gerrymandering is a core strategy for securing political power, and Texas is a key player. Following the 2010 census, Republicans swept state legislatures, giving them control over redistricting. The result? In the 2012 midterms, they won 234 House seats despite losing the national popular vote by more than 1 percentage point.

While this disproportionate advantage diminished after 2018, the current Republican-led redistricting push in Texas aims to flip five House seats—a move that could triple the GOP’s majority from five to 15 seats in 2026. That would significantly hurt the chances for  Democrats hoping to retake control of the House. 

Texas is also ground zero for the erosion of voting rights. In 2021, the state passed Senate Bill 1, restricting early voting options and increasing partisan poll watcher access. Critics argue the law disproportionately targets Black and Brown voters.

These restrictions were quickly mirrored in over a dozen states, building a national playbook for voter suppression. 

Texas lawmakers have aggressively moved to ban books, eliminate DEI programs in public universities, and restrict discussions of systemic racism and gender identity in K-12 schools. These efforts have spread to other states, notably Florida and Tennessee, reshaping how students learn about their country.

4. Bodily Autonomy and Abortion Access

Texas enacted one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws in 2021, banning the procedure after six weeks and enabling private citizens to sue providers. Following the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Texas’s ban became even stricter, offering no exceptions for rape or incest.

States like Idaho, Missouri, and Arkansas soon followed suit.

Texas introduced dozens of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the last two years, including bans on gender-affirming care and restrictions on drag performances. These attacks, largely targeting trans youth, mirror legislative trends in dozens of other states.

When one state succeeds in passing discriminatory laws, others are emboldened to do the same, putting vulnerable communities at even greater risk. 

For example, Lousiana’s HB 648 aims to ban gender affirming care for transgender youth, and South Carolina’s, H. 3728, which would censor curriculum and prohibit schools from requiring gender or sexual diversity counseling or training for students and staff. 

From congressional maps to classroom book bans, what happens in Texas rarely stays in Texas.

The state is not just implementing conservative policy; it’s exporting it. Whether through voter suppression, redistricting, or reproductive control, Texas is reshaping the rules of engagement in American politics. And if left unchecked, it will continue to drive the country in a direction that undermines democracy, equity, and civil rights. 

Pay attention—not just for Texas’s sake, but for your own.