On July 29, 2025, a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers met with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in Santa Fe to discuss the controversial plans to redraw Texas’ congressional map. The meeting took place during a special legislative session focused on redistricting, a topic that has gained national attention.
The Redistricting Debate
The redistricting issue arose after Texas Governor Greg Abbott added it to the special session’s agenda, citing concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice. This move came after President Donald Trump publicly called for a redrawing of the Texas congressional map to secure five additional Republican seats in Congress.
In a news conference following the meeting, Texas Rep. Jon Rosenthal, Vice Chair of the Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting, expressed concerns that Abbott’s actions were driven by external political pressures rather than the will of Texas voters.
He argued that the voices of almost 2,000 Texans who spoke out against this redistricting plan during field hearings were being ignored.
Support from New Mexico’s Governor
During the meeting, which was closed to the press, Governor Lujan Grisham expressed support for the Texas lawmakers and emphasized the national significance of the issue. She called the situation a “national problem,” warning that what starts in Texas may soon spread to other states.
Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the threat to fair representation, stressing that the redistricting issue should not be seen solely as a Texas matter.
However, Lujan Grisham did not show interest in pursuing similar redistricting reforms in New Mexico, stating that she would not support mid-decade redistricting in her state.
A Focus on Disaster Recovery
As the Texas lawmakers discussed the redistricting issue, some members took the opportunity to highlight pressing concerns in their home state, especially the recovery efforts following deadly flash flooding that struck Texas over the Fourth of July weekend.
Rep. Josey Garcia from San Antonio, who had volunteered in search, rescue, and recovery efforts, expressed frustration that while she was helping her community, she was forced to attend redistricting hearings instead of focusing on disaster relief.
She shared the experience of receiving messages from constituents who were concerned about her absence in the recovery efforts.
Calls for Nonpartisan Redistricting
While Texas Democratic lawmakers are opposing the redistricting efforts led by Republicans, advocates from organizations like Common Cause are suggesting that both Democratic and Republican-led states should create independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
The goal is to eliminate political manipulation of district boundaries and ensure that voters are not disenfranchised.
In contrast, Texas lawmakers are focused on preventing the proposed redistricting plan from stripping away the representation of minority communities. Rep. John Bucy of Austin argued that the redistricting proposal was an attempt by Trump to influence the 2026 elections by targeting Black and Brown communities.
A Broader Impact
The meeting between Texas lawmakers and New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham highlights the ongoing political struggle over redistricting in the United States. As redistricting efforts unfold in Texas, concerns about voter representation, fairness, and political manipulation are expected to continue to spark national debates.
