Texas’ rezoning battle could rebuild mid-term 2026
The rezoning battle in Texas could balance Congress and impact Trump’s political future, says Philip Bailey of USA Today.
Despite being deep in the bright red council district, he faced an almost hostile crowd on Monday at his first meeting at North State Town Hall in years.
Residents of Ramalfa’s Town Hall Conference in Red Bluff were scattered across him with extensive questions and comments on topics such as immigration, rezoning, the Epstein Files, Israel, tariffs, wildfires, climate change, forest management and support for Medicaid.
Often he would scream at members of the audience, holding green cards to show approval or showing red paper for disapproval.
“When you behave that way, you just feel embarrassed about yourself,” Ramalfa said after some people cried out, “You’re a liar” and “Tell the truth.”
It was the second wild crowd that Republican lawmakers faced on Monday. He held a similar town hall in Chico earlier that day, and members of the audience cried out indecency at him.
Jill Smith, a lifelong Red Bluff resident, said that the crowd of about 350 was upset as Ramalfa held a public meeting in Tehama County years ago.
“All these people are angry. They have concerns. I have concerns. As long as I think they are doing something good for our country, we can vote for Democrats and Republicans. But I don’t think this is happening now.
Ramalfa was criticised for many of his votes in Congress. For example, he said his support in 2021 took Congress on Monday by failing to prove the 2020 election that led Joe Biden to be president, and supporting President Trump and many of his executive orders this year.
“You have chosen to violate your constitutional oath,” Reading’s Max Walter said, referring to Ramalfa’s vote that will not prove the 2020 presidential election. “Since then, you’ve violated the oath every day. But you’re loyal and loyal to felonies (trump), people who peek at people in wheelchairs, people who peek at women.”
Regarding the tariff questions, Ramalfa supported them, claiming that it would bring work to the US, who said they supported the release of the Epstein Files but wanted to make sure the victim’s names had not been released.
Roy Reddin asked if Ramalfa supports the proposed type of Congressional rezoning in Texas.
“Right now, the Texas Legislature is very close to the epic gerrymandering that disenfranchises hundreds of thousands of Democrat voters by realizing the district. So my question is two parts: what the Texas Legislature is doing, why shouldn’t California do the same for five seats?
Although rezoning of the Congressional District will take place at the state level, Ramalfa said he opposed attempts to rezone, including what is happening in Texas, where the state legislature proposes redrawing the Congressional District Map.
The Texas rezoning plan could lead to the state winning five more Republican seats in the legislature, and could help the GOP maintain a majority in the House next year.
However, other states, including California, have vowed to redraw the boundaries of Congressional districts if Texas advances its plans.
None of them were critical of Ramalfa. One woman said she is an immigrant and she supports Ramalfa because she supports the Trump administration’s actions against undocumented immigrants.
“He is an honest Christian man and he fights for us,” one woman said.
One woman who spoke out said many of the issues that appeared on Monday were moral issues that transcend a so-divided political situation.
“I’m afraid to stand up to my rights because I might get shot,” she told Ramalfa.
(This story has been updated to add videos.)
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834 and emails domon.arthur@redding.com. Help local journalism flourish with today’s subscription!
