Texans Vote Under Redrawn Congressional Maps Ordered by Trump

Texas' primary elections feature new district boundaries aimed at boosting Republican power

Feb. 28, 2026 at 11:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Texas' primary elections on Tuesday are among the first in the nation this year, and for millions of voters, their choices for Congress are different than last time. Months after Texas set off a nationwide scramble to redraw U.S. House maps ahead of November's midterm elections, voters are casting ballots under the new boundaries. President Donald Trump last year pressured Republican-led states to alter congressional districts with the goal of blunting Democrats' chances to reclaim power.

Why it matters

The redrawn boundaries for partisan gain worry some Democratic voters about representation, while Republican supporters see a fairer reflection of the state's conservative politics. The changes fused liberal Dallas neighborhoods with conservative pockets of East Texas and shifted lines along the U.S.-Mexico border to seize on GOP gains with Hispanic voters.

The details

In Texas, where one of the nation's biggest U.S. Senate races is also unfolding, the new maps are engineered to help Republicans win five additional House seats. The changes fused liberal Dallas neighborhoods with conservative pockets of East Texas and shifted lines along the U.S.-Mexico border to seize on GOP gains with Hispanic voters.

  • Texas' primary elections were held on Tuesday, February 28, 2026.
  • President Donald Trump pressured Republican-led states to redraw congressional districts last year.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who pressured Republican-led states to redraw congressional districts to benefit the GOP.

Kamala Harris

The former vice president whose 2024 presidential election victory was carried by double-digits in the Dallas district that was redrawn.

Lance Gooden

The Republican U.S. Representative whose district was redrawn to include a formerly Democratic-leaning Dallas neighborhood.

Henry Cuellar

The Democratic U.S. Representative who was previously facing bribery and conspiracy charges until he was pardoned by Trump, and whose district was redrawn to include a Republican voter.

Roger Williams

The Republican U.S. Representative whose district was redrawn to include a racially diverse and Democratic-leaning Fort Worth suburb.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We felt represented, but with this change, we did not elect Lance Gooden and we don't feel at home with that.”

— Angela Juergens, Resident (ksgf.com)

“It's just so extreme. They're pandering to the elite, rich, white folk who just want to keep themselves in power. The redistricting, it's just another example of it, trying to keep power.”

— Ryan Vannest, Resident (ksgf.com)

“How the Republicans operate has never been a benefit to me. And the way they draw the Republican districts just to tear our neighborhoods apart, I think they believe in divide and conquer.”

— Clara Faulkner, Former Mayor (ksgf.com)

“I can't identify with it. They can't identify with us.”

— Rene Martinez, President, League of United Latin American Citizens (ksgf.com)

“If I'm in a different district, that doesn't change anything.”

— Luke Wilkinson, Inventory Manager (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The new congressional district maps will be used in the November 2026 midterm elections, where control of the U.S. House of Representatives is at stake.

The takeaway

The redrawn congressional maps in Texas highlight the ongoing partisan battles over redistricting, with Republicans seeking to cement their power and Democrats warning of disenfranchisement. The issue raises broader questions about the role of gerrymandering in shaping the country's political landscape.