The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 20, 2025
In June, President Donald Trump asked Texas to redistrict and deliver five additional congressional seats before the 2026 midterm, igniting a multi-state gerrymandering arms race. Nov. 18th, a federal court ruling halted the new districts and said “substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map.”
In a 160-page opinion, a three-judge federal district court panel ruled 2-1 that the state legislature’s proposed 2025 congressional redistricting plan had the effect of diluting the votes of Black and Hispanic voters in multiple districts in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth.
Writing for the majority, Trump-appointed Judge Jeffrey Brown cited a problematic letter from the U.S. Department of Justice which pointed to so-called “coalition districts” of Black and Hispanic voters as being unconstitutional, based on a misreading of a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision. Brown wrote that it appeared the State of Texas tailored its map to meet DOJ’s misguided demands.
The majority found for the pro-voter group plaintiffs in all four of the cases before the court, issued a preliminary injunction on the 2025 map, and directed a return to the 2021 congressional map.
The State of Texas immediately filed an emergency appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 2026 Texas candidate filing deadline is December 8th.
We have the decision at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Politico – Trump on Texas redistricting: ‘We are entitled to 5 more seats’
American Democracy Minute – (Sept) Texas Senate Republicans Approve Gerrymandered Congressional Map; California Democrats Pass Bill to Put Retaliatory Maps on the Ballot
League of United Latin American Citizens (via Democracy Docket) – Complaint Alleging Racially Gerrymandered Districts in 2025 Maps (1 of 4 complaints from pro-voter groups)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas – El Paso – MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
GRANTING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
Texas Tribune – Federal court blocks Texas from using new congressional gerrymander in 2026 midterms
Groups Taking Action:
LULAC, MALDEF, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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