The Texas Legislature’s congressional redistricting effort is set to move Hill County out of the 6th District, represented by Jake Ellzey, to the 17th District, currently represented by Pete Sessions.
Bosque County is also in District 17 under the new map.
The mid-decade redistricting was requested by President Donald Trump, who said that Republicans were entitled to five more seats in Texas, and set off a battle between Republicans and Democrats in the Texas Legislature.
The Texas Senate passed House Bill 4 Saturday, August 23. Governor Greg Abbott said, “The ‘One Big Beautiful Map’ has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law. I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise.”
Redistricting normally occurs after the census at the beginning of a decade, but the mid-decade effort was an opportunity for Republicans to pick up extra congressional seats and strengthen their majority ahead of next year’s mid-term elections.
Democrats argued that the new maps are discriminatory, and many fled the state to prevent a quorum as the Texas House of Representatives attempted to consider approval.
An analysis by The Texas Tribune found that the map dilutes Democratic voting strength by placing more Democratic voters in Houston and Dallas into districts already controlled by Democrats. It also splits voters who voted Democrat in the last presidential election into Republican districts.
The new map is already facing legal challenges, with a lawsuit claiming that the effort is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that violates the Voting Rights Act. Other legal challenges were expected to follow in the coming days.
Depending on the outcome of those challenges, the maps could be in effect for the 2026 election cycle.
The complete map can be viewed online at dvr.capitol.texas.gov.
The Lakelander 