Every 10 years, states redraw the boundaries of their congressional districts to reflect new population counts from the census. Texas Republicans drew a new congressional map that protects incumbent Republicans and significantly decreases the number of competitive districts in the state. Texas gained two congressional seats after the 2020 census. In order to shore up their existing seats, Texas Republicans made one of those new seats a Democratic stronghold in Austin.
How the districts voted in 2020, by presidential vote margin in percentage points
Democratic
Competitive
Republican
Old map 36 districts
Change
Change in Democratic districts: 2+2D
Change in Competitive districts: -10-10C
Change in Republican districts: 10+10R
New map 38 districts(+2)
How the new map shifts voting power by demographic
Texas gains two seats in the House after adding 4 million residents in 10 years, as recorded in the 2020 census. Although White Texans represented just 5% of that new growth, the new map adds three districts where White residents represent a majority. Hispanic Texans contributed to half of that population growth, but the new map maintains the same number of Hispanic-majority districts at 10.
Non-Hispanic White people make up 40% of the Texas population and Hispanic people make up 39% — nearly equal. Under the new map, however, 42% of districts are White-majority and Hispanic residents represent the majority in 26% of districts.
The group that represents the majority in each district
About the data
Sources: US Census Bureau, Edison Research, each state’s legislature or other redistricting authority
Methodology note: Block-level demographic data from the 2020 census is reaggregated into each new district’s boundaries.