Texas Lawmakers File Congressional Map Projecting Five Republican Gains

Texas lawmakers have proposed a new congressional redistricting map that is projected to gain five Republican seats, intensifying the state's mid-decade redistricting battle. The map includes significant changes in central Texas and Houston-area districts, with Travis County split into four districts and key Houston districts 9, 18, and 29 redrawn, raising concerns about minority voting power dilution. Democrats and community leaders argue the redistricting is politically motivated and constitutes illegal voter suppression, particularly affecting Black and Latino communities, with critics warning that President Trump supports these changes to secure a stronger Republican hold in Congress. The redistricting effort, initiated during a special legislative session, has sparked public hearings and protests, highlighting a lack of transparency and fears of racial gerrymandering. Meanwhile, opposition voices, including Houston-area Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, have publicly voiced their resistance to the plan. This contentious process reflects a broader national struggle over redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.