A mid-decade redistricting plan pushed by Texas Republicans is drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups and community leaders who say the new congressional map dilutes Black political power in Houston.
For decades, Houston’s Black voters have held sway in two districts — the 9th and the 18th — represented by Democratic Reps. Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee. Under the new plan, much of the city’s Black population is shifted into a single district, leaving Houston with only one seat where Black voters can reliably elect a candidate of their choice.
Critics say the changes amount to racial gerrymandering and violate the Voting Rights Act. “This is inherently racist,” said one Houston community leader, adding that consolidating Black voters into one district strips them of representation that had taken generations to build.
Republicans argue the new map reflects political, not racial, considerations. The plan could flip as many as five Democratic-held seats statewide, bolstering the GOP’s majority in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 elections.
The redistricting also reconfigures Houston’s 29th District, held by Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia, reducing the share of Hispanic eligible voters despite the population remaining majority Latino. The changes are expected to spark competitive challenges from within her own party.
Civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, have filed lawsuits challenging the maps. A three-judge federal panel in El Paso began hearings in late September to determine whether the new districts unlawfully dilute minority voting strength. The outcome could decide whether Texas is allowed to use the new maps in the 2026 election.