Texas Lawmakers Await Ruling On New GOP Redistricting Map

With candidate filing for the 2026 midterm elections set to open in just days, a three-judge federal panel in El Paso has still not ruled on whether Texas will use its newly approved congressional district maps — or revert to the current 2021 boundaries.

The court held a 10-day hearing in October to examine whether the new maps violate federal law. The ruling will determine which district lines candidates must use when filing with the state and their respective parties before the December 8 ballot deadline.

Once the judges issue their decision, the case is expected to head directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to CBS News.

The Texas Legislature passed the new maps during a special session this summer — one that became national news when Texas House Democrats fled the state for nearly two weeks to block the vote. Their walkout ultimately failed. When the session restarted on August 23, Republicans moved quickly to cement new district lines that could expand the GOP’s U.S. House representation by up to five seats.

Democrats, joined by activist groups including the NAACP and LULAC, responded with lawsuits, claiming the new maps amount to racial gerrymandering. Republicans have rejected that argument outright, stating that the redistricting was based on partisan strategy, not race.

Currently, three Democrats hold House seats in North Texas:

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30)
• Rep. Julie Johnson (TX-32)
• Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33)

All three are seeking re-election.

Under the proposed maps, North Texas would retain only two Democratic-majority districts — with the 32nd shifted into GOP territory. Johnson has said she will now run in the 33rd, while Veasey will run again but has not announced which district. Crockett may remain in the 30th or move to the 33rd depending on where the final lines fall.

The same Democratic walkout that attempted to block redistricting is now the subject of a separate, high-stakes legal fight before the Texas Supreme Court.

Gov. Greg Abbott petitioned the court to remove the House Democratic Caucus chair from office — arguing that lawmakers who flee the state to shut down the Legislature should face consequences.

Attorney General Ken Paxton backed the action:

“Just because some of the runaway Democrats returned to Texas does not mean they get to escape the consequences of abandoning Texas and abdicating their responsibilities.”

“If you deliberately, openly, and blatantly refuse to show up to work for weeks on end, you lose your job,”
Paxton added.

The court has now consolidated Abbott’s case with a similar suit by Paxton seeking to remove 13 Democratic lawmakers from office.

Texas is among several GOP-led states that have redrawn congressional lines after calls from President Donald Trump to increase Republican representation in the House, where the GOP currently holds a narrow majority ahead of the 2026 elections.

The Texas maps are considered a key piece of that national strategy.