The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has taken legal action against Texas, filing a lawsuit over the state’s newly approved congressional map. The civil rights organization argues the map discriminates against minority voters and violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The lawsuit amends a previous case the NAACP brought against the state following the 2021 redistricting cycle. It claims that Texas lawmakers drew both the new congressional map and earlier state legislative maps with the intent to dilute the political influence of voters of color. According to the filing, the maps prevent communities from electing candidates of their choice and were designed to secure long-term political advantages for the ruling party.
The complaint further argues that the legislature failed to provide enough opportunity for public input before approving the new districts. NAACP leaders said the rushed process excluded many voices and left little room for open debate about the impact of the changes.
NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said the move represents a deliberate attempt to limit representation for Black communities in the state. He described the mid-decade redistricting effort as unconstitutional and politically motivated, coming just ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The lawsuit calls on the court to declare the congressional map invalid, stating it was enacted with an unconstitutional racial purpose. It also seeks to block Texas from using the map in upcoming elections.
Supporters of the new map, including Republican lawmakers, defended the redistricting during hearings and debates. They argued that political performance and geographic considerations guided the drawing of the new districts. The map has not yet been signed into law but is expected to take effect if upheld in court.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Secretary of State Jane Nelson are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Their offices have been contacted for comment, but no public response has been given.
Last week, the legislature passed the Republican-backed plan, which analysts say could reshape political dynamics in the state. The map is expected to create as many as five new Republican-leaning districts. It does so by combining Democratic-held seats in Houston, Austin, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and by making two districts in the Rio Grande Valley—traditionally Democratic strongholds—more competitive.
The lawsuit filed by the NAACP is among the first to challenge the new map. Other plaintiffs already engaged in legal disputes over earlier versions of Texas’s maps have also updated their cases to include arguments against the latest redistricting. They claim the revised boundaries continue a pattern of discrimination against minority voters.
Legal experts say the case could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Texas but also for broader redistricting battles across the United States. The outcome may influence how states approach drawing districts in the future, especially in areas with growing minority populations.
Texas has faced similar legal challenges in past decades. Courts have struck down parts of its maps in the past, ruling that they diluted minority voting power. Civil rights groups argue that the new lawsuit continues a long struggle to ensure fair representation in one of the nation’s most diverse states.
The case will now move forward in federal court, where judges will weigh the claims against Texas officials. Until then, the debate over the new congressional map remains one of the most closely watched political and legal disputes in the state.
