Texas Republicans End With Smaller House Delegation After Map Redraw Backfires

Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans will enter the new Congress with 24 U.S. House seats, one fewer than they held at the start of the current term. This total falls short of the 30-8 split the state Legislature aimed for when it enacted a mid-decade redistricting plan in 2025. Democrats now hold 14 of the state's 38 congressional seats.

In 2025, the Texas Legislature redrew the state's congressional map under pressure from President Donald Trump. The new lines were designed to convert five Democratic-held districts into seats that Trump would have won by at least 10 percentage points. The goal was to create a buffer to protect the Republican majority in the U.S. House.

The strategy did not succeed. Republican candidates lost four of the five seats the map was engineered to flip. The party also lost two of its own incumbents. These results reflect a national shift in voter alignment that overwhelmed the district boundaries.

In South Texas, moderate Democrats Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen won reelection. They survived the redraw, which added more voters who supported Trump in their districts. In the Rio Grande Valley, Republican Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, lost her seat to Tejano musician Bobby Pulido. The district had been held by Republicans previously.

Democrats captured the 23rd Congressional District, a large area stretching from San Antonio to the outskirts of El Paso. Katy Padilla Stout defeated Brandon Herrera, a YouTuber and gun-rights activist. Padilla Stout, a San Antonio attorney and former teacher, benefited from the district's majority-Hispanic population. The seat had been vacant since April when Tony Gonzales resigned.

In the San Antonio area, Bexar County sheriff's deputy Johnny Garcia won the newly created 35th Congressional District. He defeated Republican Carlos De La Cruz. Trump had carried the district by 10 points in the 2024 election. In Houston, Democrat Leticia Gutierrez defeated Army veteran and former investment banker Alex Mealer in the 15th District. Gutierrez spent significantly less than Mealer, who raised $2.8 million according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Several new representatives will join the delegation in January. Ten incumbents are leaving office due to retirement, primary losses, or moves to other races. Reverend Frederick Haynes III will represent the 30th District in Dallas. He has pastored Friendship-West Baptist Church for more than 40 years. He defeated his opponents after receiving the endorsement of former Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who lost her Senate primary bid to James Talarico.

Mortgage loan officer Jon Bonck will succeed Rep. Wesley Hunt in the 38th District. Bonck received endorsements from President Trump and Senator Ted Cruz. Mark Teixeira, a former professional baseball player, will take the 21st District after Rep. Chip Roy lost the Texas attorney general primary to Mayes Middleton. Teixeira began his 14-season Major League career with the Texas Rangers in 2001.

Steve Toth of Conroe will replace Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the 12th District. Toth, a business owner, defeated Democratic nominee Shaun Finnie. He served five terms in the Texas House, including the last eight years. Former Rep. Colin Allred returns to Congress after two years out of office. Greg Casar will take the Austin seat previously held by Rep. Lloyd Doggett.

Four other Republican seats will change hands. Tom Sell will succeed five-term Rep. Jodey Arrington. Sell worked in the office of former Rep. Larry Combest. Chris Gober will take the seat held by Rep. Michael McCaul. Gober previously served as chief lawyer for Elon Musk's America PAC. Jessica Steinmann, an attorney, will replace Rep. Morgan Luttrell. Trever Nehls, a retired Army Colonel, will take the 22nd District, replacing his identical twin brother, Rep. Troy Nehls.