San Antonio, August 20, 2025
News Summary
The League of United Latin American Citizens and other minority voter groups are calling for an urgent federal court review of Texas’ newly proposed congressional map. They argue that the map is unconstitutional and seek an injunction to prevent its use in elections ahead of 2026. The state has opposed expedited hearings but hasn’t objected to the inclusion of the new map in ongoing litigation. Public testimonies have shown strong opposition to the changes, highlighting concerns about potential dilution of minority representation.
San Antonio
Minority Voting Groups Seek Immediate Court Review of Texas Mid-Cycle Redistricting
Legal challengers led by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and allied minority voter groups asked a federal court to move quickly to block a newly proposed Texas congressional map, preparing to seek an injunction in September to prevent the map’s use in upcoming elections. The groups want expedited relief to ensure any rulings would be effective ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Key legal action and schedule
Plaintiffs in an existing lawsuit over Texas’ 2021 political maps filed motions to add the new congressional map and new plaintiffs to the case, and they are requesting a federal hearing in September to consider a preliminary injunction. They characterize the new map as egregiously unconstitutional and are seeking immediate relief to stop its implementation. The state has opposed holding a preliminary injunction hearing in September on the grounds of insufficient preparation time but has not opposed adding the new map or additional plaintiffs to the lawsuit. The attorney general’s office, responsible for defending state officials and laws, did not provide immediate comment.
Context of the redistricting effort
Texas lawmakers are expected to pass the new congressional map soon. Mid-cycle redistricting is unusual but has precedent in Texas, most notably in 2003. Plaintiffs also asked the court to rule on previously filed challenges to state legislative maps; those issues had been postponed while the parties and court address the newly proposed congressional redistricting. The Texas Legislature has not proposed changes to state legislative maps during this session and focused its efforts on congressional boundaries.
Public hearings and political context
At a lengthy public hearing at the Texas Capitol on redistricting, testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the proposed changes, and no speakers supported the redrawing plan during the five-hour session. Several public hearings remain scheduled, including sessions in Houston and Arlington, each allowing five hours of public testimony. At the Capitol hearing, tensions rose and one congressional candidate, running in District 18, was forcibly removed and arrested after disrupting the proceedings.
The state’s publicly stated rationale for the mid-cycle redrawing is to address constitutional concerns reportedly raised by the U.S. Department of Justice related to certain majority-minority districts. Critics, however, say the timing and nature of the effort point to political pressure originating in Washington, where national figures have encouraged changes to increase the number of Republican seats. Civil rights leaders warned that proposed changes could substantially dilute communities of color and cited estimates that the plan could lead to white voters controlling as many as 87% of congressional seats.
Parallel legal actions and influences
Outside Texas, Republicans in California filed an emergency petition on August 27 to that state’s Supreme Court challenging Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting process, arguing technical constitutional requirements related to legislative print time were not met. That California action was supported by a law firm founded by an attorney who later joined the federal government as an assistant attorney general in the civil rights division. That same attorney had earlier initiated discussions about Texas redistricting by sending a letter raising concerns about the constitutionality of particular districts.
What plaintiffs seek and why timing matters
Plaintiffs told the court they do not want another election cycle to pass without judicial adjudication of their claims and are requesting expedited consideration so relief, if granted, would be in place before the 2026 elections. The plaintiffs’ filings ask the federal court both to add the new congressional map to the pending litigation and to issue an injunction preventing its enactment until the court resolves claims alleging racial dilution and other constitutional violations.
State officials have indicated they will defend the map but have pushed back against a rushed preliminary injunction hearing in September. The litigation and public hearings set the stage for a contested and time-sensitive legal process, with potential nationwide implications for how mid-cycle redistricting is handled and how federal review of voting maps is applied.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legal action are LULAC and other groups taking?
They are asking a federal court to add Texas’ new congressional map and new plaintiffs to an ongoing lawsuit challenging the state’s political maps, and they are requesting an expedited preliminary injunction hearing in September to block the map’s use pending resolution.
Why do plaintiffs want the court to act quickly?
Plaintiffs want expedited relief to ensure any court decision can affect the next election cycle and to prevent another election from taking place under maps they say are unconstitutional.
What is the state’s position on the requested hearing?
The state opposed holding a preliminary injunction hearing in September, citing insufficient time to prepare, but did not object to adding the new map or plaintiffs to the existing lawsuit. The attorney general’s office did not offer immediate comment.
Has Texas done mid-cycle redistricting before?
Yes. Mid-cycle redistricting is rare but has occurred in Texas previously, most notably in 2003.
What public input has occurred?
At a public hearing in Austin, speakers uniformly opposed the proposed redistricting, the hearing lasted five hours, and additional hearings are scheduled in Houston and Arlington, each with five hours allotted for testimony.
How might the changes affect representation?
Civil rights leaders warn the proposed changes could dilute the voting power of communities of color and have cited an estimate that the plan could result in white voters controlling about 87% of congressional seats.
Key features of the dispute
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Lead plaintiffs | League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and allied minority voter groups |
| Requested court action | Add new map and plaintiffs to existing lawsuit; hold expedited injunction hearing |
| Timing | News conference on August 26, 2024; legal filings seek September hearing; aim to resolve before 2026 elections |
| State reaction | Opposed September preliminary hearing due to preparation time; no comment from attorney general’s office |
| Public hearings | Multiple hearings scheduled; Austin session lasted five hours, additional sessions in Houston and Arlington |
Timeline of recent events
| Date | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 26, 2024 | LULAC National President held a news conference in San Antonio announcing planned legal challenge | Plaintiffs filed motions and sought expedited hearing |
| August 27, 2024 | Republicans in California filed emergency petition challenging state redistricting | Separate legal action arguing print-time constitutional requirements not met |
| September 2024 (requested) | Federal preliminary injunction hearing sought by plaintiffs | State opposes timing but did not object to adding map/plaintiffs |
| Upcoming (dates TBA) | Public hearings in Houston and Arlington | Each hearing allows five hours of testimony |
Simple visual statistics
Estimated potential impact on congressional seat control (illustrative):
Public testimony themes (sample distribution):
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Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle: Redistricting Lawsuit
- Wikipedia: Gerrymandering
- News 4 San Antonio: Texas Redistricting Hearing
- Google Search: Texas Redistricting
- ABC 13: LULAC Houston Lawsuit
- Google Scholar: Voter Rights
- KHOU: LULAC Lawsuit
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Legislative Redistricting
- Border Report: GOP Redistricting Effects
- Google News: Texas Redistricting News
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
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