A significant Texas redistricting proposal currently under consideration by the Texas Legislature could soon usher in a dramatic shift in congressional representation for residents of Nacogdoches and Angelina counties. This marks the second potential change in less than five years for these areas, highlighting the dynamic and often contentious nature of political map changes within the state.
Previously, following the 2020 census, both Nacogdoches and Angelina counties were integrated into Texas’ 17th Congressional District, where constituents have been represented by Congressman Pete Sessions since 2023. However, the new draft proposal, unveiled on Wednesday, seeks to undo this recent alignment, potentially before the crucial 2026 midterm elections.
Under the terms of this ambitious proposal, Nacogdoches County is slated to return entirely to the 1st Congressional District, a familiar territory as both counties resided there from 2005 until 2023. Concurrently, Angelina County would find itself placed within the 36th Congressional District, marking a distinct alteration to its established political landscape.
The reconfigured 1st Congressional District, which Nacogdoches County would anchor at its southeast end, is designed to extend southward from Texarkana. Its boundaries would largely follow the Louisiana border to the east, while bordering Smith and Cherokee counties to the west. This congressional seat is presently held by Nathaniel Moran, a Republican from Whitehouse, whose constituency would expand significantly.
Meanwhile, Angelina County would occupy the northernmost section of the expansive 36th Congressional District. This proposed district is set to encompass the entirety of several other counties, including Tyler, Jasper, Hardin, Liberty, and Chambers. Furthermore, it would integrate substantial portions of both Jefferson and Harris Counties, creating a diverse electoral footprint.
This unusual mid-decade redistricting effort has emerged following an intense pressure campaign spearheaded by the political strategists affiliated with former President Donald Trump. The explicit objective behind this initiative is to bolster and expand the Republican Party’s already narrow majority within the United States House of Representatives, reshaping the national political balance.
Analysis of the proposed new district lines indicates a clear advantage for the Republican agenda. Under this new configuration, an estimated 30 districts across Texas would have favored Trump in the previous year’s election, each by a commanding margin of at least 10 percentage points, thereby solidifying the Republican majority in the US House.
Specifically, the districts currently represented by Congressmen Cuellar and Gonzalez, both predominantly Hispanic and rooted in South Texas, are projected to become marginally more amenable to Republican candidates. While Trump garnered 53% and 52% respectively in these districts in 2024, the new proposed lines would have seen him achieve nearly 55% in both, underscoring the strategic implications for future congressional representation.
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