Governor Abbott’s Congressional Map is Racist, Unconstitutional, and Un-American
Washington, D.C. — Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a new congressional redistricting map that further entrenches Republican control at the expense of communities of color. Voto Latino released the following statement:
“Governor Abbott’s signature on this gerrymandered map is nothing less than a direct assault on the people of Texas. By manipulating district lines to drown out Latino and Black voters, he has chosen to protect his own party’s power over the rights of Texans to choose their representatives freely.
“This law is racist. It is unconstitutional. And it is un-American. We know what Abbott and his allies fear: a Texas that reflects its true diversity, led by young Latino and Black voters who are stepping into their political power. Latinos make up 40.3% of the state’s population, making Latinos the state’s largest demographic, and one of the most decisive voting blocs in the state.
“The new map adds five additional GOP-leaning congressional districts—a racially discriminatory maneuver that relies on ‘packing’ and ‘cracking’ Black and Latino communities, particularly in Harris County and other majority-minority regions. The law violates the Voting Rights Act by intentionally diluting the voting strength of communities of color, silencing millions of Texans in the process.
“Voto Latino stands firm in condemning this redistricting measure as an affront to democratic principles and the fundamental right to fair representation. This is not governing; it is disenfranchisement, pure and simple.”
What Abbott’s Map Really Does to Voters of Color:
- Adds five new Republican-leaning districts, shifting power away from Democratic and minority-represented districts, and fundamentally altering competitive landscapes in places like South Texas and Greater Houston.
- Dilutes Latino and Black voting power through tactics of “packing” and “cracking”—concentrating minority voters in fewer districts or dispersing them across many—to minimize their influence.
- Impedes fair representation in fast-growing communities of color, ignoring demographic realities (Latinos represent the fastest-growing segment of the electorate) and eroding equitable access to congressional representation.
Voto Latino calls on federal courts, the Department of Justice, and every defender of democracy to step in and stop this blatant violation of voting rights. And we renew our call on every Latino in Texas to make their voice heard—by registering, by voting, and by holding accountable those who try to silence our power. Voto Latino also remains committed in fighting back this hostile Republican takeover and will continue to register young Latinos in Texas and fight back against these new maps. No option is off the table.
###
Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.