At hearing, Democrats say the redistricting process was flawed from the start
On the first day of a two-week trial, the plaintiffs’ lawyers honed in on who drew the new map and whether race was a factor. Full Story
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![The Albert Armendariz Sr. U.S. Courthouse in El Paso on Oct. 1, 2025. A three judge panel is presiding over a nine day trial on whether Texas can use the newly redrawn congressional map for the upcoming 2026 elections.]()
Credit: Alberto Silva Fernandez for The Texas Tribune -
Can Texas use its new congressional map for 2026? A trio of judges will decide.
The same plaintiffs who are challenging the state’s 2021 maps have asked the court to block the new GOP-approved districts from being used in the fast-approaching midterms. Full Story
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![A newly released redistricting map of Texas is visible on a laptop during a Senate session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP may be banking on low Hispanic turnout in new map
Republicans note that some of the districts they intend to flip were redrawn to become majority-Hispanic. Democrats say the GOP made sure to add Hispanic Texans who are unlikely to vote. Full Story
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![Presiding judge Dina Patel checks her watch as she waits for polls to open at Parker Elementary on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Houston.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters have mixed views on redistricting and Trump’s megabill, poll finds
The statewide survey found that more voters disapprove of the mid-decade redraw than support it, fueled by overwhelming opposition from independent and Democratic voters. Full Story
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![A map of Tarrnant County sits on State Rep. Chris Turner’s, D-Grand Prairie, desk in the house chamber in Austin on August 20, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature’s long summer ends with Democrats marginalized, Republicans triumphant and unified
Democrats in the Texas House began the year by elevating a new speaker and left Austin relegated to the sidelines in the one chamber that had granted them at least scraps from the table. Full Story
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![Members vote on HB 8 in Austin on Sept. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers redrew Texas’ congressional districts. See how yours changed.
The new maps, which aim to flip five Democratic seats to favor Republicans, will go into effect for the 2026 midterms, barring court intervention. Full Story
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![Shapes of the new Congressional districts with the red Republicans on the left and the blue Democrat ones on the right.]()
Credit: Illustration by Carla Astudillo -
Texas Legislature ends second special session marked by new political maps, slew of conservative wins
Between cracking down on abortion pills and restricting transgender restroom use, lawmakers also tackled flood safety and the STAAR test. Left untouched: Texas’ hemp industry. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, oversees roll call on the House floor in Austin on Sept. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature approves stiff penalties, fundraising limits for lawmakers who leave state to block bills
House members who freeze future legislation by fleeing Texas will face steeper fines, loss of seniority and committee posts, and limits on political fundraising. Full Story
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![Members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at a press conference at IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville, Ill., on Aug. 4, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
In rapidly diversifying Tarrant County, a summer of GOP redistricting hits Black and Latino representation
Despite explosive growth turning Tarrant into a racially diverse swing county, two new political maps will leave it with whiter, more Republican representation. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, outside the Eastside YMCA he helped bring about with federal funding, on Aug. 22, 2025. Under the newly-approved redistricting map passed by the Texas Legislature, his congressional district will become majority-white with a majority-Republican electorate.]()
Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs new Texas congressional map designed to give GOP five more seats
The governor was expected to sign off on the new district lines, which passed the Legislature last week and aim to flip five Democratic seats in the 2026 midterms. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol seen on Monday June 30, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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Texas Rep. John Lujan files to run in redrawn 35th Congressional District
Lujan, a Republican, represents a state House district that covers southern and eastern portions of San Antonio, overlapping with the new congressional seat. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores switches districts to challenge Rep. Vicente Gonzalez for third time
Flores, who was going to challenge Rep. Henry Cuellar, is returning to her old district after a newly passed map improves Republicans’ chances of ousting Gonzalez. Full Story
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![Mayra Flores, the Republican candidate for the Congressional District 34, speaks to her supporters during her watch party in Harlingen, Texas on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas redistricting fight has been the backdrop for the Trump administration to test a new legal strategy
The administration has been testing a strategy of using the courts as leverage to force political outcomes. In Texas, the state’s leaders and conservative activists have been willing, if not eager, collaborators. Full Story
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![A photo collage showing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and President Donald Trump in red and black alongside bits of a letter mentioning “unconstitutional racial gerrymanders” and threatening to “seek legal action against the State.”]()
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For their walkout, Texas Democrats get national attention — and partisan retribution at home
Democrats said the walkout inspired a national protest against GOP redistricting. But it also greased the path for other bills they oppose and unified Texas Republicans. Full Story
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![State Rep. Mihaela Plesa, D-Plano, rips up her "permission slip" in front of the Texas House vowing she will stay the night in the House Chamber in support of fellow Democrat Nicole Collier on August 19, 2025. At left is Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Garland, at right is Rep. Cassandra Hernandez, D-Farmer's Branch.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Fresh off Texas Senate’s approval, new congressional map is target of lawsuits
One lawsuit, filed by LULAC on behalf of 13 Texas residents, states that the redrawn districts in the new map are racially discriminatory and violate voter protection laws. Full Story
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![A map of the proposed changes to Texas congressional districts sits on a Texas House member’s desk on Aug. 20, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves GOP congressional map, sending plan to Abbott’s desk
Republican lawmakers pushed the map through over fierce Democratic opposition, positioning the GOP to net up to five additional seats in Texas. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gathers the senators at his desk before the final vote on the mid-decade redistricting bill in the Texas Senate on Aug. 22, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Here are the Republicans who might run for Texas’ newly drawn congressional seats
State Rep. Briscoe Cain kicked off what operatives expect to be a flurry of campaign announcements with a bid for Houston’s 9th Congressional District. Full Story
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![Pedestrians walk along the East Front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 4, 2020.]()
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Doggett won’t seek reelection to Congress if new district is upheld by courts, paving way for Casar
Casar moved quickly to coalesce Austin Democrats, launching his campaign for the 37th Congressional District Monday with endorsements from 42 current and former Texas elected officials. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin speaks during a press conference with Texas Democratic leaders at the Texas Capitol on July 31, 2025. Democrats are fighting mid-decade Republican redistricting efforts influenced by President Donald Trump. Left to right are U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Greg Casar of Austin, Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Al Green of Houston and Sylvia Garcia of Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
GOP state Rep. Briscoe Cain files for redrawn 9th Congressional District
The Houston-area district, currently occupied by Democratic Rep. Al Green, is being redrawn by GOP lawmakers to favor Republicans and cover almost entirely new territory. Full Story
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![State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, speaks with press outside the Texas House on Aug. 18, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers are debating GOP congressional maps. What does redistricting mean for Texans?
From urban cores to rural regions, Texans' needs differ. Experts worry new districts encompassing geographically distant communities will dilute their voices. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune