(The Center Square) – After holding multiple hearings on a Congressional redistricting plan that had not yet been unveiled, the Texas House published its redistricting proposal, PLANC2308, on Wednesday. The outcome could result in Republicans gaining five seats in Congress.
Texas House Democrats, who oppose the redistricting effort, accused Gov. Greg Abbott of succumbing to President Donald Trump after Abbott added redistricting to the special session agenda in response to concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.
At earlier hearings held in Austin, Houston and Arlington, every witness, including members of Congress and members of the public, testified against the redistricting plan that no one, including every member of the redistricting committees in the Texas Senate and House, had seen or been a part of creating. Members have also said they were unsure who drew the map, with some pointing to a D.C. strategist in Virginia creating it.
Nearly every Texan who testified at the hearings raised questions as to why hearings were being held without anyone being able to see a redistricting map or knowing who was drawing it.
Nearly everyone who testified asked why the legislature was redistricting outside of a 10-year census process, especially when no new census data is available to accurately reflect population changes.
The redistricting plan states it is proposed by the Texas Legislative Council and is based on 2019-2023 American Community Survey and 2020 Census data. The 2021 redistricting plan the legislature passed was also based on the same data. It is currently in litigation.
The redistricting proposal falls under HB 4, filed by Republican state Reps. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi and Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City. It was filed in response to a call made by Gov. Greg Abbott for the special legislative session, which began July 21.
It took nine days into the special session, and after several hearings in the Texas House and Senate, for the redistricting plan to be made public. Although three House hearings have already been held, the bill history states it was read for the first time on July 30 and has been scheduled for another public hearing on August 1 in Austin.
The two-page bill would supersede and repeal “all previous enactments or orders adopting congressional districts” for Texas, it states.
If passed and signed into law, it applies to the 2026 primary and general elections for the members of the 120th Congress.
It would take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in each chamber of the Texas legislature, or 91 days after the last day of the legislative session.
Based on the 2020 Census, Texas’ population of 29,145,505 is represented by 38 congressional districts with an estimated population of 766,987 per district.
The plan breaks up district by county population percentage and by race (Anglo, non-Anglo, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Black and Hispanic).
The plan doesn’t change the number of districts but creates 7 new openings by moving incumbents to different districts.
For example, incumbent Democrat Lizzie Fletcher, (current CD 7), is moved to a new CD 38, an area that leans Republican in the Houston region.
U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who represents the current CD 38, a strong Republican district, is moved to a new District 18, along with U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, (current CD 9). The existing strong Democratic CD 18 is currently vacant after former U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner died. A special election is being held for his replacement.
In a newly created border District 15, U.S. Rep. Vincente Gonzalez, D, (current CD 34), is moved to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R, (current CD 15), opening up a new CD 34 to a new candidate.
In a new CD 21, incumbent U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D, (current CD 20), is moved to face incumbent Republican Rep. Chip Roy, whose current District 21 is in the Hill Country.
In a new CD 24, incumbent U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, D, (current CD 32), is moved to face incumbent Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyne (current CD 24) in north Texas.
In the new CD 25, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D, (CD 33), is moved to face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (current CD 25) in north Texas.
In the new CD 37, U.S. Rep. Gregorio Casar, D, (CD 35), is moved to face incumbent Democrat Lloyd Doggett (current CD 37), resulting in one of them being elected out of office in the heavily Democratic Austin region.
Moving around incumbents opens up new seats in new CDs 7, 9, 20, 30, 32, 34 and 35.
Unless incumbents ran for a seat in one of the new districts, it is plausible that Fletcher, Green, Gonzalez, Johnson, Veasey, Castro and either Casar or Doggett could lose their 2026 election. The outcome could result in Republicans gaining five seats.
The majority of congressional districts held by incumbent Republicans appear to be unchanged under the new plan.
