The Texas Senate approved a new congressional map in the early hours of Saturday morning, passing House Bill 4 on a party-line 18–11 vote after Republicans shut down a Democratic filibuster attempt.
Houston Democrat Sen. Carol Alvarado had planned to filibuster the bill, but Sen. Charles Perry invoked a Senate rule after pointing to a campaign fundraising email Alvarado sent during the debate. Perry argued the email violated ethics rules, which allowed Republicans to end debate and force a vote.
Abbott Celebrates “One Big Beautiful Map”
Gov. Greg Abbott quickly praised the outcome, calling it a win for Texas voters.
“The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law. I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise,” Abbott said in a post on X.
Abbott argued the map “reflects Texans’ actual voting preferences” and thanked Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for pushing it through the Senate.
How the Map Shifts Districts
Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats, but the new map