ABC-7 Xtra Sunday: Texas Redistricting Battle
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- One of the priorities during the 30-day special session of the Texas Legislature is a request by Governor Greg Abbott to redraw political boundaries in the state to benefit the Republican party.
Abbott had not planned to have redistricting as one of the items for the special session. But a phone call from President Donald Trump changed that. Trump wants Texas to add five more seats in the House of Representatives in order to secure a GOP advantage and avoid losing seats in next year's midterm elections.
Sunday night on ABC-7 Xtra, I talk with a redistricting expert and the party chairmen for the Republican and Democratic parties in El Paso about whether El Paso would be affected by the redistricting efforts.
ABC-7 Xtra Sunday airs at 10:35 p.m., right after ABC-7 at Ten Weekend.
State Senator César J. Blanco is urging West Texas residents to participate in the Texas Senate Redistricting Committee’s virtual regional hearing on Tuesday, July 29th to ensure fair representation in Congress.
The Texas Legislature is holding a rare mid-decade redistricting session, and this hearing gives West Texans an important opportunity to provide public input on how congressional and legislative districts are drawn.
What: Virtual Senate Redistricting Committee Hearing for West Texas
When: Tuesday, July 29th, 8:00 AM Mountain Time
Where: Virtual via Zoom. Those interested in testifying must register by Monday, July 28th, 8 PM Mountain time using this link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/Bte9onlLTW2WytM25Lxc-A#/registration
State Representative Vincent Perez (D-El Paso), will host two public community meetings on Saturday, August 2 to provide updates and gather input from residents in the community on the ongoing congressional redistricting efforts underway in Austin during the 1st Called Special Session of the 89th Texas Legislature, which could have lasting impacts on how communities like El Paso are represented in Congress.
While the House Committee on Redistricting is holding official hearings in Austin and other parts of the state, none have been scheduled in El Paso, leaving the voices of Latinos and border communities excluded from this formal process. In response, Rep. Perez is bringing the conversation home to ensure residents of House District 77 and the broader El Paso community have an opportunity to learn about the ongoing process, ask questions, and ensure their voices are heard.
While no official maps or redistricting plans have been drawn or shared with the public at this time, these sessions will provide important context on how potential map changes could affect representation in Congress, particularly for Latino and minority communities across Texas.
EVENT DETAILS:
Saturday, August 2,2025
- 10:00 AM – Valle Bajo Community Center & Library
7380 Alameda Ave, El Paso, Texas 79915 - 12:30 PM – Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center
901 N Virginia Street, El Paso, Texas 79902
