A delegation of seven Texas Democratic House members traveled to New Mexico's state capitol on Tuesday to seek support from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in their fight against what they describe as politically motivated redistricting efforts being pushed from Washington, D.C.

Texas Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Moody, a Democrat from El Paso, led the group during a news conference held in the Capitol rotunda following their meeting with the Democratic governor. Moody characterized the redistricting push as a deliberate attempt to manipulate electoral boundaries for partisan advantage.

"Right now in Texas, there is a political power grab coming from Washington, D.C., coming from the Trump White House to dismantle districts, to racially gerrymander districts, disenfranchising brown and Black Texans," Moody stated during the briefing.

The Texas lawmakers argue that the redistricting effort is being driven by unpopular policies and represents an attempt to secure electoral victories through map manipulation rather than policy merit. "The reason they're doing that is because they know that their policies that they continue to pass are unpopular," Moody explained. "They have stolen people's health care, including here in New Mexico. They have stolen food out of hungry kids' mouths, and now they want to steal the election in 2026 because they know they can't stand on those policies."

The timing of this political battle has drawn criticism from the Texas Democrats, who point out that their state is currently dealing with serious emergency situations. Moody referenced deadly flooding in central Texas that has claimed over 130 lives, including many children, drawing parallels to recent flash floods in Ruidoso, New Mexico, which have resulted in three deaths and required multiple swift-water rescues.

"We just had one of the most horrific events in central Texas where over 130 people lost their lives, including many, many children," Moody said. "But instead of focusing on that, we are focusing on this political power grab. That is wrong and what we need today is... we need to have the backup of our friends across this country."

The Texas delegation spent more than an hour meeting with Governor Lujan Grisham, who expressed solidarity with their cause. In a statement released after the meeting, the governor said, "After meeting with Texas lawmakers today, I share their concerns about redistricting and the assault on fair representation. These dedicated state legislators are understandably doing everything possible to remind states everywhere that this isn't how democracy is supposed to work."

The Texas Democrats emphasized that the implications of their state's redistricting battle extend far beyond Texas borders. "It's not just about five seats in Texas," Moody explained. "This is a national problem, and we are here to sound the alarm that it may start in Texas, but it's not going to end there, and we need our friends across the country to stand with us."

Texas State Representative Jon Rosenthal, who serves as vice chair of the state's Redistricting Committee, reported significant public engagement with the issue. He noted that more than 3,000 Texas residents have attended what he described as the state's first three field hearings on the matter.

"We have packed auditoriums around the state," Rosenthal said, adding that most constituents oppose allowing federal officials from Washington, D.C., to dictate when and how Texas draws its electoral boundaries.

The current redistricting push breaks from the traditional ten-year cycle that typically follows the U.S. census. Instead, this effort is being driven by pressure from President Donald Trump and represents what Democrats characterize as an unprecedented federal intervention in state electoral processes.

Rosenthal framed the issue as part of a broader pattern of federal overreach. "It's more than just a power grab in Texas," he said. "It is Washington, D.C., flexing their muscle in a Republican-led state in this nation, and if anybody thinks that this starts and ends in Texas, you're fooling yourself."

The Texas Democrat continued, "We have to all stand together if we want to remain not only united, but free as a nation to govern ourselves as we see fit in our states, and that's why we are enlisting the aid of strong governors around the country that govern like adults and put the needs of the people ahead of the political expediency of the party."

The redistricting battle represents a high-stakes political fight with implications for control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 elections. Republicans, led by President Trump and the GOP, are working to maintain their congressional majority through strategic redistricting efforts in key states like Texas.

The Texas Democrats' multi-state tour represents an unusual approach to fighting redistricting efforts, as they seek to build a coalition of support from fellow Democratic officials across the country. Their visit to New Mexico appears to be part of a broader strategy to raise national awareness about what they see as an assault on fair representation and democratic norms.

The delegation's emphasis on the timing of the redistricting push, coming during a period of natural disaster response in Texas, underscores their argument that political considerations are taking precedence over urgent public safety and emergency management needs.

Governor Lujan Grisham's support for the Texas Democrats reflects the partisan nature of redistricting battles and the way these issues transcend state boundaries. Her characterization of the situation as "an assault on fair representation" aligns with Democratic talking points about gerrymandering and electoral fairness.

The Texas lawmakers' strategy of seeking support from neighboring states highlights the interconnected nature of American politics and the way electoral battles in one state can have implications for representation and political power at the national level. Their multi-state advocacy campaign represents an attempt to frame local redistricting issues within a broader narrative about democratic governance and federal overreach.