Final answer:
Republicans in Texas gerrymandered congressional districts to reduce the number of Democratic seats and maintain control. This manipulation of district boundaries for political advantage is known as gerrymandering.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the case of Texas and the gerrymandering of congressional districts, the motive behind it was to reduce the number of Democratic seats and maintain control for the Republican party. By combining the voters in Austin with those in surrounding counties, sometimes even several hundred miles away, the Republicans were able to dilute the voting power of Democratic-leaning areas. This manipulation of district boundaries for political advantage is known as gerrymandering.