1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the recently passed congressional redistricting plan in the Texas House of Representatives. This mid-decade redistricting effort, pushed by President Donald Trump, is a blatant attempt to manipulate our electoral map for partisan gain and does not serve the interests of Texas voters. The proposed plan would potentially flip five districts to Republican control by merging Democratic seats in Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas, creating new Republican-leaning districts. It also makes two Rio Grande Valley districts currently held by Democrats more competitive. This is not a fair representation of our state's diverse population and political landscape. As a constituent, I am deeply concerned about the undemocratic nature of this redistricting effort. It appears to be driven solely by partisan interests rather than the fair representation of all Texans. The fact that all Democratic amendment proposals were unsuccessful during deliberations further underscores the partisan nature of this process. I urge you to oppose this redistricting plan as it moves to the state Senate. Our electoral maps should be drawn to ensure fair representation, not to secure political advantage for any party. The integrity of our democratic process is at stake, and Texans deserve better than a gerrymandered map that disregards the will of the voters. Furthermore, I am troubled by Governor Abbott's announced plans to add legislation punishing legislators who deny a quorum. This move seems to be a direct response to Democratic lawmakers who left the state for 18 days during the special session in an attempt to block this very legislation. Such punitive measures only serve to further polarize our political landscape and hinder democratic debate. It's worth noting that these new maps may rely heavily on the durability of Hispanic support for Republicans in the 2024 elections, which is far from certain. This uncertainty highlights the short-sighted nature of this redistricting effort and its potential to backfire. I implore you to stand up for fair representation and oppose this partisan redistricting plan. Texas deserves a map that accurately reflects its population and ensures that every vote counts equally. Please prioritize the interests of all Texans over short-term political gains.