Advocates Fighting 2021 Texas Redistricting Say They’ll Challenge New Gerrymander

Voting rights advocates fighting Texas’ existing congressional map are preparing to challenge the state’s latest gerrymander as soon as it goes into law.

The plaintiffs challenging the state’s 2021 map as a racial gerrymander filed a motion Monday asking to schedule a hearing in September at which they will argue that the court should block the new redistricting plan, which is currently being considered by lawmakers. 

Texas Republicans this week are expected to pass a new congressional map aimed at creating five more GOP seats in Congress – all at the request of the White House, which is pushing red states to redraw their maps so Republicans win control of the House in 2026.

The plaintiffs – including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), as well as other groups and individual Texas voters – argue that the new map, which has been advanced out of committee in both chambers, is “egregiously unconstitutional” and must be immediately blocked.

Plaintiffs intend to expeditiously supplement their complaints and move for a preliminary injunction on account of the new map’s blatant constitutional violations,” the advocates write. “Plaintiffs will request expedited consideration of that motion to ensure relief is available for the 2026 election (including time for emergency Supreme Court review as needed).”

Time will be of the essence when it comes to litigation challenging the new map, with 2026 primary election deadlines just around the corner.

Plaintiffs also are asking the court to toss out its August 11 order postponing post-trial briefing deadlines and final judgment – as well as issue a separate ruling on the existing State House and Senate maps, which won’t be impacted by upcoming changes to the congressional map. 

The new Texas map builds on an already gerrymandered foundation that’s been challenged in court for years. At trial in June, Republican lawmakers testified they drew the 2021 map without considering race – an argument that was immediately contradicted by federal officials, who told Texas Republicans in a July letter that four congressional districts with Black and Latino representatives were unconstitutionally racially gerrymandered. 

Some plaintiffs in the Texas redistricting lawsuit are represented by the Elias Law Group (ELG). ELG Firm Chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.