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Texas Legislature considers reworking congressional map
As the Special Session of the Texas Legislature continues, lawmakers are considering redistricting the state after urging from President Donald Trump.
HOUSTON - President Donald Trump is advocating for redrawing congressional districts in Texas, a move that has sparked debate among Democrats and Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
What they're saying:
The proposed redistricting is causing concern among Democratic lawmakers in Houston, who argue that the Republican-led plan could neglect certain neighborhoods. Christian Menefee, a local official, criticized the effort, saying, "Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans are trying to redraw the congressional maps and steal representation from Black and Brown communities. They're doing it for no other reason than because President Trump is telling them to do so."
Texas Congressional Map
The other side:
Redistricting occurs every 10 years based on census data to ensure fair representation in Congress. The last redistricting took place in 2021, with the next scheduled for 2031. However, the current push for changes has raised questions about the process.
Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt commented, "At this point, no one has seen a map. We don’t know what the congressional districts are going to look like. There are a lot of steps that need to happen. Redistricting doesn’t just happen like that."
What you can do:
A redistricting hearing is set for Saturday, July 26 at the University of Houston Main Campus.
For more information on the redistricting process, you can read more about it here.
The Source: FOX 26 attended a press conference held by Christian Menefee and FOX 26's Greg Groogan spoke with Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt.