LULAC CONDEMNS NEW TEXAS REDISTRICTING MAP AS A HIJACKING OF DEMOCRACY

Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Decries Brazen Actions That Suppress Non-White Voters to Permanently Tilt the Electoral Playing Field

Washington, D.C. — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued a sharp rebuke to the Texas Republican Party following the release of its proposed mid-decade congressional redistricting map—an unprecedented and blatant attempt to subvert democracy by diluting the political power of Latino voters across the Lone Star State.

"This map is nothing short of a hijacking of democracy in plain sight," said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "It entrenches Republican power by rewriting the rules of the game midstream. When you can't win fairly, you cheat, and that is exactly what this is. The people of Texas, especially its Latino voters, deserve better than to be carved up and cast aside to serve the president's agenda," he added.

The newly unveiled redistricting map is being widely condemned for targeting Latino-majority districts and Democratic incumbents, including Representatives Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, shifting their districts to favor Republican outcomes. In Central Texas, the proposed map would eliminate the congressional district held by Rep. Greg Casar, a champion of civil rights, in a move critics have called illegal voter suppression.

Under the guise of compliance with the Voting Rights Act, the map creates districts where Latinos make up a statistical majority in population but not in voting power, diminishing their real influence at the ballot box. This shell game with numbers ignores the real impact: fewer Latino voices in Congress and a weakened ability to shape the policies that affect their daily lives.

"This is a dark and shameful day for our state," says Gabriel Rosales, Texas LULAC State Director. "The redistricting map is not just gerrymandering; it's rigging. It splits communities, silences voters, and rewrites the boundaries of democracy to serve partisan gain. LULAC has always welcomed differing views at the table and worked across party lines, but what the Texas Republican leadership is doing is a direct attack on the principles of representation."

While Texas Republicans claim the map increases Latino-majority districts, a closer examination shows that in many of these areas, Latino voter turnout potential is diluted by design, a tactic aimed at securing Republican dominance without accountability to the state's diverse population. The move, coming just one year after the 2024 elections and outside the traditional redistricting cycle, is seen as a signal that Texas has become ground zero for anti-democratic experimentation at the expense of its fastest-growing community.

"LULAC issues this urgent call to action to all fair-minded Texans: this is your moment," says Palomares. "Do not let your voices be erased. Speak up. Protest. Demand fairness in our elections. Our democracy is not a playground for political opportunists. If this map stands, it will serve as a blueprint for voter suppression nationwide and deepen the divides already fracturing our communities," he said.

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About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit https://lulac.org/.