NAACP challenges Texas over gerrymandered congressional maps

In August 2025, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) initiated legal action against the state of Texas, claiming that the newly drawn congressional maps were racially gerrymandered. The lawsuit asserts that these maps, produced in advance of the midterm elections, were intentionally designed to diminish representation for Black voters and other communities of color. Derrick Johnson, the NAACP's president and CEO, highlighted the demographic shifts in Texas, noting that while the state is only 40% White, White voters control over 73% of the congressional seats. This claim reflects broader concerns over fair representation in electoral processes and the potential manipulation of district boundaries for partisan advantages. The maps in question were adopted following significant demographic growth in Texas, which gained 4 million new residents, predominantly people of color, after the latest census. Despite these shifts, the newly drawn congressional districts favor Anglo-majority areas, undermining the voices of diverse populations within the state. The NAACP, alongside civil rights groups and the Justice Department during the Biden administration, had previously filed a related lawsuit in December 2021 over Texas's earlier congressional maps, arguing that they violated the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment. The initiative to redraw the maps has sparked strong political reactions, particularly from Democrats who accuse Governor Greg Abbott and Texas lawmakers of engaging in a power grab to increase Republican representation in Congress. The NAACP contends that these changes are not only unconstitutional but reflect a persistent trend of targeting districts that effectively represent minority interests. The civil rights group has called upon other states, particularly those with Democratic leanings like California and New York, to devise redistricting plans that would counteract the effects of Texas's new mappings. This lawsuit and the surrounding controversy underscore the ongoing struggle for equitable representation in the United States, emphasizing the critical role that districting plays in ensuring that all voters, especially those from marginalized communities, are fairly represented in government. The response from the NAACP and other advocacy organizations highlights a broader strategy to reassess and realign congressional districts, advocating for plans that reflect the changing demographics and needs of the electorate amidst increasing polarization in American politics.