Republican legislators of Texas propose fresh House district plan aiming to secure an additional five seats for the Republicans
In Texas, the latest round of redistricting has taken an unexpected turn, with Republican lawmakers proposing a new congressional map aimed at consolidating and expanding GOP power. The proposed changes, which have sparked intense partisan clashes, could potentially result in the dilution of minority voting strength and the weakening of Democratic electoral bases.
The new map, if passed, could see up to five additional U.S. House seats shifting towards the GOP. The proposed changes dismantle traditionally Democratic areas around Austin, Dallas, and Houston, and make two Democratic-held seats in South Texas more Republican-leaning. The map also keeps all 25 current Republican seats safe while potentially reducing majority-Latino districts in places like Harris County despite Latino population growth.
The Texas House passed the new map by an 88 to 52 vote, with the bill authored by GOP State Rep. Todd Hunter. Hunter acknowledged that the map aims to improve Republican performance, citing the 2019 Supreme Court’s Rucho v. Common Cause decision that partisan gerrymandering is outside court jurisdiction. The Texas Senate gave initial approval on a party-line 18-11 vote, and the map is expected to be signed into law swiftly by Governor Greg Abbott.
Democratic lawmakers strongly oppose the map, citing concerns that it dilutes the influence of minority voters, particularly Latinos, whose population growth is not reflected in the new district boundaries. The legislative process involved intense partisan clashes, including a Democratic quorum break to stall the mapping and filibuster attempts in the Senate, which Republicans overcame.
The proposed map could face legal challenges from Democrats, who argue that it intentionally destroys majority-minority districts and replaces them with majority-Anglo districts. If adopted, the new map, according to election analyst Dave Wasserman, would have 30 Republican-favoring districts and 8 Democrat-favoring districts. The new lines could put incumbent Austin-area Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) on a collision course in 2026.
The legislature's special session in Texas is scheduled to run through Aug. 19. The new map is set for a committee hearing on Friday. Combining Houston Rep. Al Green's 9th District with the vacant 18th District is a possibility under the new map. Most of the big pickup opportunities for Republicans under the new map are in Hispanic-majority districts.
One vacancy exists in the deep-blue 21st District, to be filled in a special election this November. President Trump won Texas' 40 electoral votes in 2020 with 56% of the vote. The proposed boundary changes primarily affect districts in South Texas, Austin, Dallas, and parts of Houston.
Texas Democrats are exploring strategies to hinder the passage of the new map, such as fleeing the state to prevent a quorum. The proposed Texas congressional map needs to clear the state House and survive legal challenges from Democrats to become law.
[1] The Texas Tribune
[2] The Associated Press
[3] CNN
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