Gov. Abbott approves new voting maps for state legislature, Congress, school districts for next decade

Texas adds two Congressional seats

Texas saw rapid growth in Hispanic populations and those identifying as Black or Asian, according to the U.S. Census. The state’s growth was enough for it to add two U.S. House seats for a total of 38 Texas representatives in Washington, D.C.

The new 37th and 38th Congressional Districts were drawn in the Austin and Houston areas, respectively.

Robert Murray, a political science professor at the University of Houston and former redistricting advisor to Texas’ Black legislative caucus, said in addition to population increases, the state saw minority populations move out toward the suburbs—which could influence how maps are redrawn.

“The minority populations have grown dramatically, but it has also dispersed,” Murray said. “There’s a lot of Black and brown flight to the suburbs, more than previous decades.”

With the maps officially approved, opponents can file legal challenges. The national voting rights advocacy group Voto Latino, along with several Texas voters, filed a complaint on Oct. 25 against Abbott and Texas Secretary of State John Scott, alleging that Texas’ new congressional maps reduced the opportunity for communities of color to vote for candidates that represented them.