On July 30, 2025, Texas House Republicans unveiled a proposed congressional map for 2026 that could flip five Democratic-held districts to Republican control, bolstering their slim 220-212 House majority. The redistricting plan, backed by President Trump and Governor Greg Abbott, targets Democratic strongholds in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and South Texas. Currently, Republicans hold 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats, but the new map would create 30 districts Trump carried in 2024 by at least 10 points, up from 27.
Key targets include the Rio Grande Valley seats of Representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, which Trump narrowly won in 2024 but would shift to 55% Republican under the new lines. In Houston, Representative Al Green’s majority-minority District 9 would transform from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican-leaning seat. Dallas’ District 32, held by Julie Johnson, and Austin’s District 35, represented by Greg Casar, face similar flips, with Casar’s district potentially forcing a primary against Lloyd Doggett. Democrats decried the map as a “racist power grab,” arguing it dilutes minority voting power, especially in Tarrant County, where voters of color are split into Republican districts.
The proposal, part of a 30-day special session, risks a “dummymander,” where overly aggressive gerrymandering could backfire in a Democratic wave election, as seen in 2018. Legal challenges are expected, with Democrats citing violations of the Voting Rights Act. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned of retaliatory redistricting in blue states. The map awaits a Friday committee hearing, with passage uncertain amid Democratic threats to deny quorum.
