The new congressional maps pushed by Texas and California have ignited a confrontation that could redefine political representation and the weight of minority communities in the midterm elections. The issue was discussed at a conference organized by American Community Media with the participation of various experts.
The fight over the redistricting of congressional districts in the United States continues. A few weeks ago, Texas approved a congressional map designed to secure five additional Republican seats. California’s response was immediate: it announced its intention to implement more districts that would ensure greater Democratic representation—an initiative that would change the independent redistricting mechanism used in the state for the past 15 years.
At a conference organized by American Community Media, experts discussed the potential impact of this new redistricting process in several states, as well as its possible effects on minority voting power.
The Weakening of Democracy
Gene Wu, Democratic leader in the Texas House of Representatives, warned that such practices, carried out outside of census cycles, threaten democracy and undermine parts of the electorate, especially minority communities. “This redesign seeks to neutralize the political growth of minorities, and if it spreads to more states, it could create a system where lawmakers no longer have incentives to respond to voters,” he said.
Wu also pointed to the economic imbalances that these new Republican policies could generate: “With the massive rise in prices, job losses, and the decline of tourism, we may be facing the worst recession.”
There is also the possibility that these measures could backfire. According to Wu, if district margins are stretched too far, the move could work against those who promoted it. Still, he emphasized that, regardless of the outcome, the groups most affected would remain Latino and African American communities.
“Democracy will cease to be relevant, no matter what minority communities want. They have gained power in Texas and other states, and are now seen as a threat in Houston, South Texas, and Dallas,” he concluded.
A Lawless Terrain
Sam Wang, director of the Electoral Innovation Lab at Princeton, warned that redistricting in the United States operates in a lawless environment. “There is no national standard to limit partisan gerrymandering or guarantee racial equity,” he noted. He also recalled that in 2019, the Supreme Court—in the case Rucho v. Common Cause, a landmark gerrymandering dispute—declared the claim unconstitutional but “refused to intervene, leaving regulation in the hands of the states.”
Wang contrasted two opposite scenarios: “In Texas, there are no rules that regulate the process; it’s a real Wild West where Democrats can only block sessions to stop Republicans.” According to him, Texas aims to secure between five and seven additional seats in what would be the most aggressive redesign since 1972. By contrast, he explained, in California the process “is protected by the state constitution and is decided by an independent commission”; therefore, the maps proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom must be submitted to a referendum.
Regarding potential solutions, Wang outlined three paths: the creation of independent commissions, appeals to state courts that protect principles of free elections and rights of association, and citizen-led initiatives to amend state constitutions.
On the issue of minority representation, he warned that racial equity is often determined more in state-level redistricting than in federal congressional maps.
The African American Community: The Most Weakened by These Measures
Sarah Rohani, attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, addressed the impact of the new electoral maps on the African American vote following the 2020 census. She noted that although the Black population grew in several key jurisdictions, this increase resulted in discriminatory practices and a wave of litigation.
“Data showed that population growth over the past decade came mainly from voters of color, meaning the new districts should have guaranteed them greater opportunities for representation,” she explained.
Rohani also emphasized that despite warnings from communities and organizations, white-majority legislatures in states such as Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina approved maps that diluted Black voter representation. In response, courts blocked several of these redistricting plans.
The attorney underscored the importance of maps in elections: “They are the foundation of democracy—when voters believe their ballots lack value, participation drops.”
However, she also insisted that the outlook is not entirely bleak: in the 2024 elections, the new Black-majority districts in Alabama and Louisiana showed the smallest turnout gap between white and Black voters, proof that fair design encourages participation.
Texas Under Republican Control
Thomas Saenz, president of MALDEF, focused on the case of Texas and recalled that the congressional map approved in 2021 had already been designed to maximize Republican advantage.
“In Texas, both the legislature and the governor have been under Republican control for several decades, and in every redistricting process they seek, within legal margins, to expand their political advantage as much as possible,” he said.
Now, with the proposal to redraw districts to gain five additional seats, the state is committing direct violations of federal law, the expert asserted. “The Latino and other minority populations have grown faster than the white population since the last census.”
Saenz also criticized the role of former Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom he accused of distorting legislation to justify a new redesign under the pretext of preventing racial gerrymandering. According to him, it is a political maneuver that gives cover to the governor to impose an even more Republican-favored map.
Finally, California voters will decide in November whether to approve new maps that aim to give Democrats five additional seats in the House of Representatives. Republicans, for their part, are pushing their own redesign to gain the same number of seats, following the request of former President Donald Trump. The debate remains unresolved.