Texas politics just got real messy. Lawmakers in Austin just passed a brand-new congressional map, and folks are calling it straight-up racist. Civil rights groups like the NAACP already hit the state with lawsuits, saying the map is designed to weaken Black and Latino voting power by chopping up communities or cramming them into districts so their influence doesn’t spread (Washington Post).
Republicans pushed it through fast—an 88–52 vote in the House and quick approval in the Senate. If it stands, the GOP could lock in up to five extra seats in Congress for the 2026 midterms (Houston Chronicle).
Vince Perez Didn’t Hold Back
Texas Rep. Vince Perez (D–El Paso) became the loudest voice in the fight. He broke it down like this:
Around 445,000 white residents will control one congressional seat. It’ll take about 1.4 million Latinos or 2 million Black residents to do the same.
Perez called the plan “overtly racist” and said the whole system is rigged to keep white political power at the top (TIME). His words hit hard:
“This shameful map re-introduces 1960s white-dominance in our legislatures… one white resident in Texas is now equal to 5 Black residents and to 3 Latino residents.”
When Democrats walked out of the special session to stop the vote, Perez was slapped with almost $10K in fines. Instead of backing down, he doubled down, saying if he could do it again, he would “without hesitation or reservation” (KFOX).
Why People Are Heated
Critics say this is gerrymandering 101—cracking minority communities apart or packing them together so their votes don’t count. The result? Millions of Black and Latino Texans lose political representation, even though they make up the majority of the state’s population growth (Express-News).
Republicans argue it’s “just politics,” not racism. But when you look at the math Perez laid out, it’s hard not to see the imbalance baked right in.
What’s Next
Lawsuits are already moving through the courts, and judges could decide if this violates the Voting Rights Act (Washington Post). Other states are watching—California Democrats are reportedly weighing their own redistricting moves in response (Houston Chronicle). Public pressure is building. Activists and lawmakers like Perez are framing this fight as bigger than politics—it’s about whether democracy in Texas actually represents all Texans.
Bottom Line
Texas’s new map isn’t just about lines on paper—it’s about power. With lawsuits flying and politicians like Vince Perez refusing to stay quiet, this battle is far from over. The question is: will the courts step in, or will Texas voters of color be left with less say in who represents them?
