Ken Martin, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, declared on CNN that Democrats will aggressively counter the Texas GOP’s mid-decade redistricting efforts, which could eliminate up to five Democratic U.S. House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Martin criticized Republican leaders — Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott, and AG Ken Paxton — calling the redistricting a “blatant, unconstitutional power grab.”
This isn’t your grandfather’s Democratic Party,” Martin said. “We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight.” He encouraged blue-state governors to consider retaliatory redistricting to offset potential losses from Texas, signaling a broader strategy to neutralize GOP gains.
Martin said Democratic governors are prepared to act, and “every option is on the table,” including redistricting responses in California and New York, despite their legal and logistical complexities. The DNC chair framed the confrontation as a test of the Democratic Party’s willingness to fight back, aiming to reassure voters skeptical of the party’s assertiveness.
