𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣/𝗔𝗕𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗧'𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗬𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚.𝗢.𝗣.

Texans from across the state are speaking out against a controversial plan by the Republican-controlled legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map years ahead of schedule. At a packed Texas House redistricting hearing, residents, civil rights advocates, and Democratic lawmakers condemned the move as a blatant power grab designed to weaken the political influence of minority communities and boost Republican chances in upcoming elections.

The hearing, which drew dozens of speakers, two overflow rooms, and a full virtual queue, marked the first of several public meetings on the issue. Many expressed frustration and disbelief that the state was pushing ahead with redistricting even though a new census won't occur until 2030.

“When I saw what you folks were doing up here in the legislature, I got screaming mad,” said Christy Stockman of Corpus Christi. “It’s a good old-fashioned bait-and-switch, with a power grab added in.”

Critics argue the redistricting process is being driven not by population shifts, but by political pressure from former President Donald Trump, who is reportedly urging Texas Republicans to add up to five new GOP-leaning districts. Doing so would likely involve slicing up existing Democratic districts, many of which are made up of largely Black and Hispanic communities. Trump’s push comes as Republicans cling to a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

State lawmakers have not released a proposed map yet. Republican Rep. Cody Vasut, who chairs the House redistricting committee, insists the hearings are intended to gather public input before making any decisions. But many participants doubt that their testimony will matter.

“There’s no real consequence to what we say,” said Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP. “No disrespect, but we have been disregarded in the past.” Bledsoe warned that the state’s existing map already underrepresents Latino voters, and that any attempt to further dilute minority power could deepen long-standing inequities.

                                       

Current political districts in South Texas

Outside the Capitol, former Congressman Beto O’Rourke accused Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott of colluding to consolidate political control. “In order to continue this consolidation of authoritarian power and destroy this democracy once and for all, [Trump] has to retain control in the House,” O’Rourke said.

The Department of Justice recently warned Texas that four congressional districts are likely unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering. While Governor Abbott has cited that letter as a reason to revisit redistricting, Attorney General Ken Paxton has claimed the current districts are “race blind,” repeating arguments the state has used in ongoing legal battles over the 2021 maps.

Opposition is especially strong in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, where local leaders fear their communities will be divided and their representation diluted. Emily Amps, a Valley resident who testified at a virtual Senate hearing Friday, said the proposed changes would carve up unified Latino communities into multiple districts, making it harder for them to be heard in Congress.

“They’re going to try to cut up our communities, especially communities of color,” Amps said. “If we’re not going to be listened to, then we’re going to make our voices louder at the ballot box.”

Denise Palacios, another speaker from South Texas, said the effort was premature and dangerous. “Legislators shouldn’t be selecting their voters,” she said. “Voters elect their legislators.”

Although a few speakers expressed support for redrawing the lines, arguing it could better reflect a growing conservative shift among some Hispanic voters, the vast majority who testified opposed the move. Many called for the legislature to focus on urgent local issues instead, such as flood preparedness.

State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, a Democrat from McAllen who sits on the redistricting committee, called the effort “unnecessary and unconstitutional,” saying it is clearly aimed at diminishing minority representation.

Civil rights groups including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Southwest Voter Registration Project have already challenged the current maps in court, and any mid-decade changes are likely to trigger further legal battles. Texas last attempted redistricting mid-decade in 2003, also under Republican leadership.

Democratic lawmakers are trying to slow the process by extending debate and pressing Republican colleagues on why the change is being rushed through. Rep. Gene Wu of Houston questioned whether any Texas legislators had even asked for redistricting. “There is no obligation for us to do this at all,” added Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso.

As the August 7 deadline to submit a proposed map approaches, residents across the state are urging lawmakers to listen. Hearings continue this weekend in Houston and Arlington, with more scheduled by the Senate early next week. Texans can still submit comments online, but many fear that the decisions have already been made behind closed doors.

Whether the legislature hears them or not, many opponents say they are ready to take the fight to the courts and the ballot box.