Texas Democratic governor candidate Gina Hinojosa is reminding voters of the 2025 move by Gov. Greg Abbott and Republicans to redraw the state's election map.
On the first anniversary of the 2025 Redistricting Quorum Break, Hinojosa announced on Monday, Aug. 3, that she will deliver a speech in Houston to honor the 61st Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and outline the national stakes of the Texas governor’s race.
"One year ago today, we broke quorum to fight Greg Abbott’s attempt at stealing five congressional seats in a mid-decade redistricting scheme — but the fight continues," she said in her announcement. "Texas Republicans have already said they're coming back next year to redraw maps after the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the U.S.
Supreme Court. Let’s be clear: this is another power grab from Abbott to continue empowering the billionaire class and avoid consequences at the ballot box."
She further contended that Texas deserves a governor who will fight for fair maps and put an end to the extreme gerrymandering "that threatens our democracy."
According to the Hinojosa campaign, Texas controls nearly 10% of Congress and stands to gain as many as five seats after the next census. Without a Governor to veto rigged congressional maps, millions of Texans could lose their voice in Congress for a generation, Hinojosa said.
Abbott champions Trump-backed election map
Abbott heavily championed the state's new mid-decade election map, celebrating its design to heavily favor Republican districts while aggressively defending it against racial gerrymandering lawsuits.
When Abbott signed House Bill 4 redistricting plan into law, he openly praised its political intent of gaining Republicans additional seats under the new map.
Before its final passage, Abbott referred to the Trump-backed redrawing as "One Big Beautiful Map" and promised it would be "swiftly signed into law."
In a celebratory social media video posted upon signing the bill, Abbott stated that the new boundaries ensured Texas is "now more red in the United States Congress."
When a three-judge federal panel in El Paso temporarily blocked the map for being an "illegal racial gerrymander," Abbott released a fierce press statement condemning the judges' decision. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Texas Republican leaders and allowed the redistricting maps to be used in the upcoming elections.
Important dates for 2026 Texas election
The last day to register to vote for the General Election is Oct. 5, either online, by mail, or in person.
Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30. The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 23 for mail requests or Oct. 19 for in-person requests. The absentee ballot return deadline is Nov. 3, by mail or in person on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Kristian Jaime is the Top Story Reporter for the El Paso Times and is reachable at Kjaime@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Gov. Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa on gerrymandering in governor race
