Civil rights advocates on Tuesday filed a lawsuit to overturn a redistricting map anticipated to favor Republicans within the 2026 midterm elections, saying it weakens the electoral affect of Black voters.
The NAACP and the Attorneys Committee for Civil Rights Below Legislation filed the lawsuit in Texas.
They accuse Texas legislative leaders of participating in gerrymandering to forestall Black voters from electing candidates of their alternative.
“The state of Texas is simply 40% white, however white voters management over 73% of the state’s congressional seats,” Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, stated in a press release. “It is fairly apparent that Texas’s effort to redistrict mid-decade, earlier than subsequent yr’s midterm elections, is racially motivated. The state’s intent right here is to cut back the members of Congress who signify Black communities, and that, in and of itself, is unconstitutional.”
Because the Voting Rights Act was adopted, the state of Texas has been discovered to have discriminated towards Black and/or Brown residents after each cycle of redistricting, in accordance with the NAACP.
Accusations of racism dominate Texas debate over redistricting
Democrats and Republicans accused one another of racism throughout their debate final week within the Texas Home over the brand new congressional maps.
Final Monday, the Texas Home established a quorum for the primary time in two weeks after Democrats left the state to dam the brand new maps. That set the stage for the invoice to come back to the Home ground. Democrats accused Republicans of violating Part 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The Justice Division says on its web site that part two of the Voting Rights Act prohibits “discrimination in voting applies nationwide to any voting commonplace, apply, or process that leads to the denial or abridgement of the suitable of any citizen to vote on account of race, coloration, or membership in a language minority group.” Republicans insisted they adopted this legislation.
“As soon as once more, Republicans proceed to make energy grabs on the again of Black and brown communities,” stated Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas. “We fought for one of the vital vital points we’ve got as Texans, and that is our proper to vote. We’ll nonetheless proceed to struggle. We’ll take this to the courts.”
Rep. Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall, who’s Black and represents a majority white district, rejected Democrats’ accusations throughout an interview with CBS Information Texas.
“It is victimization all day, daily,” stated Pierson. “There is not any account for values, and that is what’s most vital. Folks of Texas have spoken within the final a number of cycles. Minority voters are turning Republican, and that’s how this map is drawn. It is completely authorized. In fact, they’ll take us to court docket, however we’ll win.”
After eight hours of debate final Wednesday, the Home permitted the brand new maps by an 88-52 margin alongside celebration strains.
Consultant Ann Johnson, D-Houston, scolded Republicans.
“That is about racism, and if you cannot hear it from them, then hear it from me as a white girl and a daughter of a person of privilege. To face right here as a 50-year-old girl and know that we’re going again in time. So, let’s speak about cowardice and cheats,” she stated.
Pierson fired again at Democrats.
“The racist rhetoric is outdated. It’s severely stale and lengthy overplayed. Information flash: Democrats don’t personal minorities in Texas. Republicans are the bulk, so it isn’t the folks of Texas who’re racist. It’s you,” stated Pierson.
Texas redistricting map permitted amid political tensions
Texas lawmakers permitted the map Saturday, creating 5 new districts favoring Republicans. The transfer got here after President Donald Trump requested it.
“The 5 new Republican majority-leaning seats we consider for all the suitable causes, authorized causes, and the suitable causes politically that our state deserves these extra 5 seats as a result of this state has modified dramatically,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick not too long ago stated to CBS Information Texas.
The trouble by President Trump and Texas’ Republican-majority Legislature that prompted state Democrats to carry a two-week walkout additionally kicked off a redistricting effort in California, with different Democrat-led states hinting that they might comply with go well with. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Democratic state lawmakers are shifting ahead with a November particular election to place a brand new congressional map earlier than the voters that would assist Democrats acquire 5 seats. California Republican lawmakers say they’re suing to cease that from occurring.
Republican Sen. Phil King, the Texas measure’s sponsor, beforehand denied accusations alleging that the redrawn districts violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters’ affect based mostly on race.
“I had two targets in thoughts: That each one maps can be authorized and can be higher for Republican congressional candidates in Texas,” he stated.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has not but signed the map into legislation, has predicted it should survive any court docket challenges. Abbott additionally has predicted different Republican-led states will make related strikes searching for new seats for the GOP in Congress.
Texas Democrats have stated that after Abbott indicators the invoice into legislation, they’ll file a lawsuit towards the state.
