Texas GOP Faces Tough Test in Redistricting Hearings

Texas Senate Chairman Questions DOJ Claims on Redistricting Maps

In Austin, Texas, a key Republican leader in the state Senate has expressed skepticism about claims made by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the current congressional district maps. Sen. Phil King, who chairs the Senate committee responsible for overseeing redistricting efforts, addressed these concerns during a public hearing on Tuesday.

King referred to a letter sent to Gov. Greg Abbott by the DOJ, which alleged that four Democratic congressional districts were drawn based on race and are therefore unconstitutional. This claim has sparked debate among Republicans, many of whom previously supported the 2021 map during regular decennial redistricting.

Despite the DOJ’s assertions, several Republicans, including King, have rejected these claims. They argue that the existing maps are legal and do not discriminate against any group. King emphasized that he hasn’t seen the underlying facts supporting the DOJ’s letter but maintains that the map he voted for was legal.

The ongoing discussions around redistricting have significant implications. If the lines are redrawn to include more Republican voters, it could help Republicans retain control of Congress and support President Donald Trump’s agenda. One of the districts in question is the North Texas district represented by U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, which includes parts of King’s district. Redrawing this seat could put Veasey and other Democrats at risk in the November 2026 midterm elections.

During a hearing on Tuesday, Veasey pointed out that leading Republicans, including Abbott, have previously defended the constitutionality of these same maps. He questioned the inconsistency in their statements, noting that they once swore under oath that the map was race-blind.

King’s remarks come as his committee prepares to vote on whether to use a subpoena to compel the testimony of Justice Department attorney Harmeet Dhillon, who wrote the letter cited by Abbott. The request for Dhillon’s testimony was made by committee Democrats, who believe that without the letter, redistricting might not have been added to the special session agenda.

The House’s redistricting committee has also requested Dhillon’s testimony. At a recent hearing in Arlington, Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, stated that he has not received a response from the Justice Department.

In her July 7 letter to Abbott and the attorney general’s office, Dhillon argued that three districts in the Houston area and Veasey’s North Texas district were racially gerrymandered due to their majority nonwhite populations. Attorney General Ken Paxton responded by stating that while he supports redistricting, he disagrees with the assertion that the 2021 maps were illegal, citing evidence from a recent civil trial in El Paso.

King has expressed doubts about the committee’s ability to subpoena a federal officer but is willing to bring the issue up for a vote. A two-thirds majority would be required for the motion to pass.

Throughout the hearings, lawmakers have focused less on specific maps and more on the reasons for redrawing them. King mentioned that a group led by conservative Virginia redistricting activist Adam Kincaid is working on a new map. Kincaid was involved in creating the 2021 maps that faced legal challenges.

At the end of the Tuesday hearing, Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, questioned whether the decision to redraw the congressional lines had already been made. She asked if there was an option to refrain from redrawing the lines based on the testimony and the outcome of the maps.

King responded that some opponents of redistricting also testified that they didn’t like the current districts, as evidenced by ongoing legal challenges by Democrats who believe the 2021 map violates the Voting Rights Act.

Despite the backlash in the hearings, neither King nor other Republican leaders have indicated they plan to block the redistricting effort, even as they question the DOJ letter that initiated it.

Democrats have continued to consider fleeing the state to shut down the special session. Some have been fundraising on the possibility of breaking quorum to pay for an extended time out of state. Similar tactics were used in 2003 and 2021, though they only succeeded in delaying Republican-led bills.

Some Democratic House members have traveled to left-leaning states to discuss the ongoing redistricting battle in Texas. On Tuesday, seven lawmakers met with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, emphasizing the potential for other states to conduct their own partisan gerrymanders if Republicans proceed with redistricting. None of the state leaders has committed to the idea.