Democratic members slammed the process, questioning why hearings were happening before maps were available for review. Chair Cody Vasut said follow-up public hearings will be scheduled once maps are filed.

Speaking to two dozen state lawmakers, a packed hearing room, two overflow rooms and a robust virtual waiting room, Texans condemned the Legislature’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional map at the House redistricting committee’s first public meeting on Thursday.

President Trump and Texas GOP leaders push for mid-decade redistricting to create five new winnable seats, as both parties engage in mapping strategies to control the House in 2026.

The catastrophic floods in the Texas Hill Country and a partisan redrawing of U.S. House maps, aimed at giving Republicans more winnable seats in the 2026 elections, are two major issues in a 30-day special session that is already off to a combative start.

President Donald Trump said he believes Texas can squeeze out five more Republican seats in the U.S. House to shore up the GOP majority ahead of the midterms.

At the first of at least seven hearings, members of the public aired grievances about the unusual mid-decade redistricting effort.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared Friday alongside Texas Democrats who are fighting against GOP efforts to draw congressional districts in their favor.