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.
Trump called out Texas Democrats for fleeing to liberal states, saying those places have been using the same tactics when crafting their congressional districts.
“Do you notice they go to Illinois for safety, but that’s all gerrymandered,” he said. “California is gerrymandered. We should have many more seats in Congress. It’s all gerrymandered.”
States are required by law to draw up with new boundaries for Congress every decade based on the U.S. Census to reflect population changes, but occasionally legislatures step in earlier. Some states, such as California, have empowered independent commissions to draft their congressional maps.
Trump explained his rationale for the mid-decade maneuver, arguing that his margin of victory in the Lone Star State justifies changing the maps. The president noted how all nine of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation are made up of Democrats even though he won roughly 36% of the vote last year.
“We should have a couple of Congress people, but we have none,” Trump said.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says Republicans are ‘entitled’ to more Texas seats
