Texas Republicans Release Redistricting Plan Targeting Austin Democrats
New Congressional Map Could Add Five GOP Seats Statewide
Texas House Republicans unveiled a controversial new congressional redistricting map on Wednesday that seeks to fulfill President Trump’s goal of adding up to five additional Republican seats in the state’s delegation. The proposed changes would dramatically reshape the political landscape across Texas, with significant implications for Austin-area representation.
Austin Area Faces Major Changes
The redistricting plan specifically targets Austin’s Democratic stronghold, proposing substantial changes to the districts currently represented by Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Rep. Greg Casar. Under the current map, both representatives hold seats that were solidly won by Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election – Harris carried Doggett’s current seat by 34 percentage points and Casar’s by 49 points.
However, the Republican proposal would fundamentally alter this dynamic. The new map would create one heavily Democratic Austin-centered district that Harris would have won by 56 points, while establishing another district centered more prominently around San Antonio that Trump would have carried by 10 points. This change effectively transforms one safe Democratic seat into a competitive or Republican-leaning district.
“Trump is taking a hatchet to chop up Austin and our state with the sole objective of maintaining his one-man rule. This is designed to eliminate accessibility, accountability, and a strong voice for our shared values. For years, Republicans have failed in their attempts to use redistricting to get rid of me. If we continue working together, they will fail again. If Trump and his cowardly Republican accomplices get away with rigging Texas, voters in states across America will be at risk. For now, my sole focus is on defeating this Trump-imposed gerrymandering, which relies on crooked lines instead of honest votes. The only ‘What if’ that matters is ‘What if this crooked scheme is approved to give Trump a rubber stamp to do whatever he pleases.” — Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D)
The redistricting represents the latest chapter in Austin’s long history of being divided by partisan mapmakers. Austin, which had been entirely or almost entirely contained within a single district for more than a century, was first split into multiple districts through Republican gerrymandering in 2003.
Statewide Impact and Strategy
The proposed map would increase the number of Trump-won districts from 27 to 30, with each of the new Republican-leaning seats having margins of at least 10 percentage points. Beyond Austin, the plan targets Democratic-held seats in the Dallas and Houston metro areas, as well as South Texas districts currently represented by Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen.
Currently, Republicans hold 25 of Texas’s 38 congressional seats. If successful, this redistricting effort could give Republicans control of 30 seats, leaving Democrats with just eight – a dramatic shift that could significantly impact the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democratic Opposition Mounts
Austin’s Rep. Lloyd Doggett has emerged as a vocal critic of the redistricting effort, joining his Democratic colleagues in condemning what they view as an attempt to “distort the next election.” Doggett, who has represented Austin-area districts for decades and survived previous redistricting battles, warned that the process represents a coordinated effort to undermine fair representation.
Rep. Doggett’s full interview with CBS Austin:
Cesar and Doggett are not the only Congress members in Travis County who would be affected by the new map. (Austin American-Statesman)
The timing of the redistricting – occurring mid-decade rather than following the traditional post-census timeline – has drawn particular criticism from Democrats who argue it violates democratic norms. However, in Texas, legislators control the redistricting process, giving the Republican majority significant power to reshape district boundaries.
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D):
Several Austin City Council members weighed in:
National Implications and Risks
Political analysts suggest that Texas Republicans’ aggressive redistricting push could trigger a chain reaction nationwide, as Democratic-controlled states like California and New York consider their own redistricting efforts in response. This tit-for-tat dynamic could fundamentally alter the national political map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
However, some experts warn that the strategy carries risks for Republicans. While the proposed gerrymander could help Republicans achieve their goal of 30 GOP-won districts versus eight for Democrats, aggressive redistricting can sometimes backfire if demographic changes occur more rapidly than anticipated.
California Governor Gavin Newsome:
What Comes Next
The proposed map represents just the first step in what promises to be a contentious legislative process. The Texas Legislature must approve any final redistricting plan, and the proposal will likely face legal challenges from Democrats and voting rights groups.
For Austin-area voters, the changes would mean a fundamental shift in their representation. Instead of having two solidly Democratic representatives advocating for the region’s interests, the area could potentially see one safe Democratic seat and one competitive or Republican-leaning seat, diluting the political influence of one of Texas’s most reliably blue metropolitan areas.
The redistricting battle reflects broader national tensions over representation and gerrymandering, with Austin once again finding itself at the center of efforts to reshape Texas’s political map. As the legislative process unfolds in the coming weeks, the final outcome will have lasting implications not just for Austin, but for control of Congress and the direction of American politics.
An Austin American-Statesman review of city discretionary spending has revealed that Austin leaders, notably City Manager T.C. Broadnax, have used taxpayer funds for various personal and non-essential expenses.
Key findings include:
- Extensive Lunch Spending: Broadnax spent approximately $3,300 on nearly daily lunches from Sweetgreen, a pricey salad chain, averaging $20 per order, in his first year on the job. Some of this spending occurred even before his official start date.
- Other Executive Expenses: The review also found spending on items like pre-made protein shakes for former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia (now part of the Austin executive team) and energy drinks for police officers providing personal protection to Broadnax.
- Retirement Parties: Taxpayers footed a bill of $4,700 for retirement parties for four city executives, with one event costing nearly $1,700.
- Upgraded Flights: While not detailed, upgraded flights were also mentioned as an expense.
These revelations come as Austin faces a $33 million budget deficit, leading to discussions of a potential tax increase and staff reductions in police and fire departments. Critics argue that while the individual amounts may not be massive, the spending indicates a lack of fiscal prudence, especially given the city’s financial challenges. Broadnax has stated that he was “advised” such lunch spending was standard practice and that the review “highlighted a need to do a better job” of educating employees on spending policies.
Today, the Austin City Council will talk about whether to put a tax increase on the November ballot. But council members are still working out the details.
A motorcyclist is dead after a crash overnight in North Austin.
Austin police have released more information about a murder-suicide early Tuesday on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Pflugerville officials are shedding new light on the circumstances surrounding the retirement of its former Police Chief Jason O’Malley. He retired at the end of May amid an administrative investigation.
One firefighter was injured and 37 residents displaced following an overnight apartment fire in East Austin early Wednesday. Fire officials said eight apartments sustained fire damage, and three vehicles were burned.
Meanwhile, Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker proposes reducing firefighter staffing from four to three per engine to achieve $8 million in overtime cost savings for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
A political group is raising alarms over proposed changes to firefighter staffing in Austin. Text messages sent to residents claim the move could put public safety at risk.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced more counties are now eligible for federal disaster relief.
A select group of Texas lawmakers will be in Kerrville today to hear about disaster preparedness after the catastrophic flooding across central Texas earlier this month. (CBS Austin)
Cleanup continues in northwestern Travis County.
An independent filmmaker is shing a spotlight on the people of Sandy Creek and their ordeal.
The Travis County Commissioners Court is expected to raise property taxes to pay for damage caused by the flooding on July 5. (Austin Monitor)
“They failed us. They failed us. They get everybody’s tax money. Our property taxes pay for what they’re supposed to do. Nothing is being done.” — Auburne Gallagher, Sandy Creek volunteer leader
Commissioners have until October 1 to decide on the 9.12% tax hike. If approved, the average Travis County homeowner can expect to pay $200 more than what they paid the previous year, according to the county’s preliminary 2026 budget.
Austin ISD will move forward with staffing cuts as it faces uncertainty over millions of dollars in federal education grants, district officials announced on Wednesday. (KVUE-TV)
Glass panels continue to fall from the ATX Tower downtown on 6th Street & Guadalupe Street. Another incident occurred Monday, the fourth time it has happened. (KXAN)
Austin’s annual Pride festival is looking at reduced funding this year — but organizers say it’s an opportunity to get back to the celebration’s roots. The festival, scheduled for Aug. 23, will be free and feature 100% local entertainment this year.
Love Is Blind is looking for Austinites to star on a future season of the Netflix reality TV dating show. (KUT 90.5)
The Hays County Health Department said it has received notification of a laboratory-confirmed, positive human case of West Nile virus.
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Wednesday was a day of temperature extremes.
Yesterday’s low temperature broke a record set in 1971.
But as the day progressed, the mercury rose quickly.
Look for meteors in Austin’s skies this week! (KUT 90.5)
The Texas Senate on Wednesday preliminarily approved its second attempt to ban hemp-derived THC, setting up a showdown with the House, where hemp industry members say they’ll be getting more support.
The Texas Senate voted 17-12 Wednesday to preliminarily approve a bill that would allow the attorney general to independently prosecute election crimes without waiting to be invited by a local district attorney, a long-standing priority for the office’s GOP incumbent, Ken Paxton. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas Senate advanced a proposal long sought by Republican lawmakers Wednesday aimed at diminishing the influence of local governments and school districts at the Capitol. (Texas Tribune)
A former friend of Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told a Texas Ranger that in 2022 Miller asked him to dispose of three bags of marijuana cigarettes and gummies because he was afraid that the Drug Enforcement Administration might find them on his property. (Texas Tribune)
Federal funding for the three legal aid organizations serving Texans – Lone Star Legal Aid, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which provide free legal services to people at 125% of the poverty line or below – is now under threat. (Texas Standard)
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is asking for public assistance to identify a man whose body was found in the San Antonio River last year.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested 214 illegal aliens in the Houston area over the past six months for immigration offenses related to charges or convictions of sex offenses involving minors. This number surpasses the total arrests made by the Houston field office during the entire 2024 fiscal year, which saw 211 arrests for similar offenses. (My Texas Daily)
A man who died aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship that departed from Galveston last week has been identified as a resident of South Texas. (My San Antonio)
Seven places in Texas you’re most likely to encounter a rattlesnake. (Austin American-Statesman)
SPORTS
MLB: Today marks the deadline for trades among Major League Baseball teams.
Late Wednesday night, Houston acquired infielder Ramón Urías from the Baltimore Orioles.
Another Orioles player may come to Texas. The Rangers are reportedly in the running to nab Baltimore first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. (Yahoo! Sports)
Wednesday, both the Astros and Rangers scored wins.
Jose Altuve tied a career high with four hits, highlighted by a three-run homer, to lead the Houston Astros to a 9-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. (Yahoo! Sports)
Nathan Eovaldi limited Los Angeles to a run in seven innings, Adolis García hit a two-run homer in the eighth and the Texas Rangers beat the Angels 6-3 on Wednesday night.
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Astros are off today.
AL WEST STANDINGS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns officially kicked off their training camp on Wednesday. (Talk Sport)
Another Texas Postcard from Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Dwarf palmettos and other beautiful tropical vegetation make Palmetto State Park a botanical wonderland.
