In Texas, lawmakers have kicked off a mid-decade redistricting fight, pushing new maps through a special legislative session at the request of Donald Trump to add as many as five new Republican seats before the 2026 midterms.

The plan, which passed in August, has drawn national attention — and lawsuits — for its blatant gerrymandering and lack of public input.

Common Cause used its Mid-Decade Redistricting Fairness Criteria to evaluate Texas’s plan. Here’s how it measures up:

1. Texas’s redistricting plan is NOT a proportionate response to other states.

Texas started this mid-decade redistricting battle by pushing to aggressively redraw its map to add up to five new Republican seats before the 2026 mid-terms, at Trump’s request. 

2. Texas’s redistricting process did NOT include meaningful public participation.

The Texas plan was introduced quickly, in a special legislative session. While three in-person hearings were scheduled, Texas legislators were slow to release the actual new maps in question, making it difficult for Texans to voice their concerns.

3. Texas’s redistricting plan is NOT racially equitable.

Texas’s map dilutes the voting power of voters of color, dividing historically Black and Latino neighborhoods in Houston and Dallas and reducing the amount of majority-minority districts throughout the state. 

4. Texas’s redistricting leaders have NOT supported federal reform.

Texas lawmakers have not publicly supported federal reforms like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, or a ban on mid-decade redistricting.

5. Texas’s leaders have NOT endorsed independent redistricting.

Texas maps are being drawn and passed by the party in power, and there have been no calls by Texas leaders to move the state towards the use of independent redistricting committees.

6. Texas’s redistricting plan is NOT time-limited.

The redistricting bill, H.B. No. 4, states that the new maps will take effect in 2026, but does not explicitly state when they will expire. In 2003, Texas redrew their maps mid-decade and eventually returned to decennial redistricting, but there is no guarantee they will do so again.

That’s a 0/6. Texas’s plan is an extreme partisan power grab that silences voters and weakens fair representation.