Trump says Republicans are ‘entitled’ to more Texas seats—
President Donald Trump defended Republican efforts to redraw Texas’ congressional maps that would add five GOP seats, saying Democratic-leaning states have also used gerrymandering to tilt the scales in their party’s favor.
Republicans hold a narrow 220-212 majority in the House of Representatives and the president’s political operatives are fearing a blue wave in next year’s midterms, which could hamper his final two years in office if Democrats take control.
“We have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats, we have a really good governor and we have good people in Texas, and I won Texas… and we are entitled to five more seats,” Trump said during an Aug. 5 appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
The plan has ignited a nasty and partisan tug-of-war with Democratic governors in Illinois, New York and California pledging to return the favor and redraw their congressional maps to add more Democratic districts.
