Troops deployed to DC and Texas redistricting moves ahead

Six Republican governors send National Guard to Washington to support a crime crackdown while Texas lawmakers push a new congressional map.

Troops deploy to DC as Texas redistricting advances

Six states have pledged to send National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., bringing more than 1,100 soldiers to patrol the capital. The governors behind the move are Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Ohio. The deployment follows President Trump's declaration of a crime emergency in the city.

In Texas, lawmakers are set to vote on a new congressional map that could add up to five Republican seats. Democrats argue the plan weakens minority voting power and will challenge it in court. The legislation moves to the Senate after today’s House vote and then to Governor Greg Abbott for signing. Democrats previously left the state to slow the process; upon returning, they faced pressure to attend the vote.

The moves show how security and electoral strategy have merged in a polarized political climate. Critics warn that deploying troops in the capital could erode civil rights norms and feed nationalist rhetoric. The Texas redraw fits a broader pattern where map changes may shift partisan power for years, and legal challenges are likely. Voters will weigh safety narratives against democratic norms as campaigns round the corner.

Highlights

The consequences of these moves will unfold in courts and communities across the country.