Texas Republicans released their first proposed redraw of the state’s congressional map this week, a plan that could deliver the GOP a net gain of up to five U.S. House seats in next year’s midterm elections. The new map, filed as House Bill 5, reflects a redistricting strategy backed by the Trump administration, with support from national Republican operatives.
The changes target competitive or Democratic-leaning seats in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and South Texas—regions where President Donald Trump significantly outperformed other Republicans in the 2024 election. While the partisan lean of the redrawn districts ranges from R+3 to R+7, Trump carried each of them by 10 points or more, highlighting the growing personal loyalty to the president in key areas of the state.
Public Opposition Meets Partisan Redraw
Before HB 5 was introduced, lawmakers held seven public hearings across both chambers of the Texas Legislature. The response from constituents was overwhelmingly negative, with many citing concerns over racial gerrymandering, political fairness, and community representation.
Despite that backlash, Republican legislators moved ahead, citing electoral data and legal precedent. State Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford), who leads the Senate’s redistricting efforts, confirmed collaboration with Adam Kincaid of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, a Trump-aligned group coordinating redistricting nationwide. The GOP has also retained the law firm Butler Snow, and attorney Tommie Cardin, a veteran of redistricting cases across several states.
Key District Changes Across the State
South Texas: Two traditionally Democratic districts are redrawn to favor Republicans:
TX-28 (Laredo to San Antonio): Flipped to a slight GOP advantage.
TX-34 (Rio Grande Valley to Nueces County): Redrawn to be solidly Republican.
Dallas-Fort Worth: Major reshaping affects multiple Democratic districts:
Rep. Julie Johnson’s TX-32 is dismantled, its southern half absorbed into TX-30 (Rep. Jasmine Crockett) and its eastern parts shifted into heavily Republican districts TX-3 and TX-5.
Rep. Marc Veasey’s TX-33 loses Fort Worth and gains new Dallas County territory.
Houston: The city’s congressional map sees significant reshuffling:
Rep. Al Green (TX-9) is drawn into a reconfigured TX-18, now resembling the historically Black seat once held by Barbara Jordan.
Green’s current district stretches eastward toward Deer Park and Baytown, GOP areas formerly part of Rep. Brian Babin’s TX-36.
Austin/San Antonio Corridor: Perhaps the most dramatic change affects Rep. Greg Casar (TX-35), leader of the House Progressive Caucus:
His current district, which ran from Austin to San Antonio, is now drawn entirely in San Antonio and flips from deep blue to safely red.
Casar would need to challenge Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) in a new district to remain in Congress.
DOJ Scrutiny and Legal Uncertainty
The Department of Justice previously raised concerns about four Texas districts—TX-9, TX-18, TX-29, and TX-33—in a July 7 letter, citing potential violations of the Voting Rights Act. Three of those districts are substantially altered in the new GOP proposal, raising the likelihood of future federal legal challenges.
Still, Republicans remain confident in their legal footing. “We are confident this map is constitutional and fair,” Sen. King said. “We’ve taken care to protect communities of interest while responding to population growth and political realities.”
Political Outlook and Next Steps
The Texas House will move first on the map, in part because of the threat of a quorum break from House Democrats, a tactic used in previous sessions to block GOP legislation.
A committee hearing on HB 5 is scheduled for Friday, and a full House floor vote is expected next week. With just days remaining in the 30-day special session, timing is tight. If passed, the map could give Republicans a commanding edge in the state’s 38-member congressional delegation—and help President Trump solidify GOP control of the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterms.
