- State Representative Todd Hunter has filed a proposed Congressional redistricting map that could give Republicans a five-seat pickup
- President Trump has encouraged Texas lawmakers to draw a new Congressional map
- Republicans would be poised to gain two seats in South Texas, as well as seats in the Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio areas
A proposed Congressional redistricting map that could give Texas five new Republican Congressional districts was publicly unveiled this morning. President Donald J. Trump has previously encouraged state lawmakers to draw a new Congressional map to flip five seats.
Republican State Representative Todd Hunter has filed House Bill 4, which would implement the new Texas Congressional map. Hunter’s legislation is set to be heard in the House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting on Friday.
The unveiling of the proposed map comes as some Democrats in the Texas House have publicly raised the possibility of once again fleeing the state to deny the House a quorum and obstruct the passage of redistricting and other items under consideration during the current special session of the Texas legislature.
Under the proposal, Republicans would be well-positioned to pick up two seats in South Texas (CD 28 and CD 34), as well as seats in the Dallas (CD 32), San Antonio (CD 35), and Houston (CD 9) areas.
Congressional District 34, currently held by Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, would shed the portion of the current district in Hidalgo County and pick up much of Nueces County. In the 2024 election, President Trump won the proposed new CD 34 by 10.1 points, while Senator Ted Cruz carried the proposed district by 1.9 points. Governor Greg Abbott also won the proposed district in the 2022 election by a 1.2 point margin over Beto O’Rourke.
Embattled Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar’s District 28 would also see shifts to make it more likely to elect a Republican. Under the proposed new map, President Trump carried the district by 10.4 points, with Senator Cruz eking out a narrow 0.2 point advantage. Beto O’Rourke performed well in the proposed new CD 28, however, carrying the district by 10.4 points over Governor Abbott.
Cuellar is currently under indictment on federal bribery charges. His trial is currently set to begin in September.
In Harris County, the proposal alters districts across the County and creates an opportunity for Republicans to flip Congressional District 9 – currently represented by Democrat Congressman Al Green.
Under the proposal, Congressional District 9 would pick up several conservative suburbs in the eastern portion of the County, including Deer Park, Crosby, and portions of Kingwood. President Trump won the proposed district by 15.2 points, with Senator Cruz winning by 7.2 points and Governor Abbott winning by 9.6 points.
Democrat Congresswoman Julie Johnson would see her Dallas-area Congressional District 32 radically changed to become a primarily suburban and rural district that extends from Carrollton in North Dallas County all the way east to Upshur County in East Texas. President Trump carried the proposed district by 17.7 points, Senator Cruz won by 12.5 points, and Governor Abbott secured a 15.9 point margin of victory.
The proposal also creates an opportunity for Republicans to pick up a district in the San Antonio area. Congressional District 35, currently represented by Austin Democrat Greg Casar, would be centered around San Antonio-area suburbs. In addition to a portion of Bexar County, the proposed new CD 35 also includes Guadalupe, Karnes, and Wilson counties.
President Trump won the proposed district by 10.4 points, with Senator Cruz winning by 3.8 points. Governor Abbott carried the district by 6.5 points.
2024 election data for the proposed map can be found here (PDF) and here (Excel). 2022 election data for the proposed map can be found here (PDF) and here (Excel).
