The Texas Senate has approved a new congressional district map, sending the legislation to Governor Greg Abbott for final approval. The bill, known as HB 4, is expected to increase the number of Republican representatives from Texas in Congress.
The redistricting process was marked by controversy after House Democrats left the state for two weeks in an attempt to delay the vote. Their absence prevented a quorum and blocked passage during the first special session. Governor Abbott responded by pledging to call as many sessions as necessary until the bill passed. The Democrats returned last week, allowing legislative business to resume and leading to a party-line vote in favor of the new maps.
Senator Phil King of Weatherford, who authored the bill, said that while this version differs slightly from one previously passed by the Senate, its main goals remain unchanged: legal compliance, improved partisan performance for Republicans, and more compact districts compared to current boundaries. King emphasized that partisanship guided his approach rather than race. “Courts have well recognized this broad authority, therefore it is perfectly legal for us to have HB 4 before us today,” he said. He added: “I have not reviewed any racial data. In contrast to the complications that are involved with race-based redistricting, political performance is really a pretty easy map to draw and it’s absolutely permissible as a basis for drawing electoral districts.” According to King, based on voting trends from 2024, the new map could result in five additional Republican seats in Congress; however, he cautioned that future election outcomes are uncertain: “There are no guarantees. There are competitive districts in here now, more competitive than the current map, and I have no idea who’s going to run for what office.”
Democratic senators raised concerns about minority representation under the new plan. Senator Royce West of Dallas criticized the potential reduction in African-American congressional representatives: “Since the Civil War, African-Americans have been able to work with different persons in the legislative body and the courts in order to get four African-American representatives in Congress,” West told King. “What your map does, is it reduces it to two…I call that retrogression.” Other opponents argued that dividing communities would weaken black and Hispanic voting power.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued a statement supporting passage of HB 4: “This is a significant step forward — Texas’ Congressional Redistricting Map will now more accurately reflect our state,” he said. “The people of Texas expect and deserve a Congress that represents their values.”
Governor Abbott also praised lawmakers’ efforts: “I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for leading the passage in the Senate of a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans’ voting preferences.”
The measure awaits Governor Abbott’s signature before becoming law.
