Civil rights advocates have filed a lawsuit against Texas’ newly approved redistricting maps, arguing they intentionally dilute the voting power of Black communities in favor of Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by the NAACP and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, accuses Texas lawmakers of racial gerrymandering designed to block Black voters from electing candidates who represent their interests.

“The state of Texas is only 40% white, yet white voters control more than 73% of congressional seats,” NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “It’s clear that this mid-decade redistricting effort is racially motivated. Texas is deliberately trying to reduce the number of Black representatives in Congress, and that is unconstitutional.”

According to the NAACP, Texas has faced legal challenges for discriminatory redistricting in every cycle since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed.

Heated Debate in the Legislature

The state House spent more than eight hours debating the new maps last week before approving them in an 88–52 vote along party lines. The fight over the maps has been contentious, with Democrats accusing Republicans of violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bans voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or language.

Democrats briefly broke quorum earlier this month by leaving the state in protest, delaying the maps from advancing.

“This is about protecting the right to vote for Black and brown Texans,” said Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas. “Republicans are once again making power grabs at the expense of our communities. We’ll keep fighting this battle in court.”

Republicans pushed back, rejecting claims of racial discrimination. Rep. Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall, who is Black and represents a majority-white district, argued the maps reflect political shifts, not racial bias.

“Minority voters are increasingly supporting Republicans, and that’s reflected in these maps,” Pierson said. “The accusations of racism are tired and false. This map is legal, and Democrats don’t own minority voters in Texas.”

Partisan Clash Intensifies

Democrats called the plan an attack on minority representation, with Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, saying the maps represent a step backward.

“As a white woman and daughter of privilege, I can say clearly: this is racism,” Johnson said on the House floor. “We are being dragged backward in time.”

Republicans countered that the accusations were politically motivated.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick defended the addition of five new Republican-leaning districts, saying the state deserved them because of population growth. Republican Sen. Phil King, the bill’s sponsor, admitted his goal was to draw maps that would benefit GOP candidates while staying within legal boundaries.

“I had two goals,” King said. “That the maps would be legal, and that they would help Republican candidates.”

Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet signed the bill but has predicted the maps will withstand court challenges. He also suggested other GOP-led states could follow Texas’ lead by redrawing their own districts to gain seats in Congress.

Meanwhile, Democrats in California are advancing a redistricting effort of their own, hoping to gain five seats through a special election this fall—an effort already facing lawsuits from Republicans.

Texas Democrats say that once Abbott signs the measure into law, they will join the NAACP and other groups in challenging the maps in court.