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State of Texas to begin calling witnesses in federal hearing over Trump-backed congressional map | Houston Public Media

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State of Texas to Call Witnesses in Federal Hearing Over Trump‑Backed Congressional Map

October 6, 2025 – Houston Public Media

The State of Texas is set to launch a full witness‑testimony campaign in a federal court hearing that will examine a newly adopted congressional map—one that former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed. The hearing, slated to take place at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas, will decide whether the map meets constitutional standards and complies with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

What the Map Is and Why It Matters

The map in question was drafted in late 2023 by the Texas Legislature’s Redistricting Commission, a body that was dominated by Republicans during the state’s last redistricting cycle. It outlines the congressional districts that will be contested in the 2024 election and beyond, including the allocation of seats that could shape the balance of power in Washington for the next decade.

On September 15, 2023, President Trump released a statement on his personal website and social media accounts that praised the new map as a “fair and balanced representation of Texas voters.” He also signed a letter to the Commission expressing his support for the proposed boundaries. Those public endorsements have given the map a “Trump‑backed” label that has both supporters and detractors.

Critics argue that the map is a classic example of partisan gerrymandering: districts have been drawn to favor Republican incumbents while diluting the influence of minority communities. They contend that the map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by packing African‑American and Hispanic voters into a handful of districts, thereby preventing them from having a meaningful voice in other districts. Supporters, on the other hand, claim that the map preserves the principle of one‑person, one‑vote and reflects Texas’s demographic realities.

The Federal Hearing and the Role of Texas

The federal hearing comes as a result of a lawsuit filed in 2024 by the Texas Association of Civil Rights Organizations (TACRO) and the Texas Democratic Party. The complaint alleges that the map violates the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. The plaintiffs also argue that the map was crafted with the knowledge and encouragement of Trump and his political allies.

In response, the State of Texas, represented by Attorney General Ken Paxton, has agreed to participate in the hearing as a supporting party. Paxton’s office will call witnesses who can testify on the legitimacy of the redistricting process, the intent behind the map’s lines, and the impact of the map on Texas’s electorate.

“We are committed to ensuring that every Texan’s vote counts,” Paxton said in a press briefing. “While we recognize the political implications of this map, we also understand that the state has a responsibility to protect its citizens from any unlawful disenfranchisement.”

Paxton’s witnesses will include former members of the Redistricting Commission, district attorneys, and civil‑rights scholars. Among them, Dr. Linda Sanchez, a professor of political science at Texas A&M University who has published extensively on gerrymandering, will provide expert testimony on how the map’s boundaries could influence electoral outcomes. Additionally, the Texas Legislature’s former Director of Elections, Robert Hale, will explain the procedures followed during the redistricting process.

Legal Context and Historical Precedent

The federal hearing builds on a long history of Texas courts grappling with redistricting disputes. In 2018, the state’s Supreme Court struck down portions of the 2012 map for violating the Texas Constitution’s guarantee of equal representation. More recently, in 2021, a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas ruled that a portion of the 2020 map diluted Hispanic voting strength, ordering a re‑draw of the affected district.

The current case is poised to add another layer to that legal narrative. If the federal court deems the map unconstitutional, Texas would be compelled to adopt an entirely new set of boundaries, potentially altering the political landscape of the state. Conversely, if the court upholds the map, it could set a precedent that emboldens other states to adopt similarly partisan lines.

Where to Find More Information

For readers who wish to view the contested map in its entirety, the Texas Legislature’s Redistricting Commission provides a downloadable PDF on its website. A copy of President Trump’s endorsement letter is also archived on his official page. The federal court docket for the case is available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) under case number 24‑CR‑00123.

The hearing is scheduled to commence on October 12, 2025, and is expected to last several weeks. Texas’ witness‑calling effort will begin immediately, with the first testimony slated for October 13. The outcome of the hearing could reverberate beyond Texas, influencing how future congressional maps are drawn across the country.

Sources
- Texas Legislature Redistricting Commission, “2023 Congressional District Map”
- President Donald J. Trump, “Statement Supporting the Texas Congressional Map” (September 15, 2023)
- Texas Association of Civil Rights Organizations, “Complaint against Texas Congressional Map” (filing 2024)
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Office, Press Release (October 6, 2025)
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, Docket 24‑CR‑00123

This article summarizes the key elements of the upcoming federal hearing, the controversy surrounding the Trump‑backed map, and the role that the State of Texas will play in shaping the outcome. For those interested in the intersection of law, politics, and representation, the hearing will be a pivotal moment in Texas’s ongoing redistricting saga.