Following Texas’s approval of a new state congressional district map, we’ve taken a look at how the redistricting may affect our city.
H.B. 4 (Plan C2333) is set to go into effect in 2026, though a preliminary injunction hearing on the congressional districts is set to begin in El Paso on Oct. 1.
The New Map
Under the new plan, Plano is bisected into Districts 3 and 4, with West Plano’s 4 going up to Grayson County and covering the majority of the rest of the Northeastern Oklahoma border. East Plano’s 3 would cover below, with Collin, Hunt, Hopkins, Franklin, Titus and Morris counties.
Previous Redistricting
The redistricting is unusual in our state. Generally, new districts are drawn every 10 years following the United States Census. A plan enacted in 2023 reflected changes in the 2020 Census.
Prior to the map currently being challenged, a 2023 plan (2193) included Plano in three districts: 3, 4 and 32. East Plano was divided into all three, while West Plano was chunked into 3 and 4.
This was already a huge change from the 2013-enacted Plan C235. where Plano went from being all District 3 to District 4, flipping from the east side of the county to the west and giving District 3 less of a hold on the region.
How the Map Looks for Future/Past Elections
According to the Texas Tribune, 56% of Texans voted for Trump, representing in districts as 71% for Trump. If the proposed redistricting maps were in effect, the Texas Tribune stated, Trump would have been represented in districts as winning at 79%.
In our city specifically, Plano’s neighborhoods voted for Kamala over Trump nearly 2-1, with the majority of the blue votes in the areas in the current District 3, according to the New York Times “An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2024 Election.”
“Democrats say they’re gaining a foothold in Collin County, traditionally a Republican stronghold, as the population grows,” KERA reporter Caroline Love said in a recent article. “But they also worry that redistricting could knock them off that path.”
For the upcoming 2026 Congressional District election, the candidates (so far) are:
District 3 – Evan Hunt (D) and Jordan Wheatley (D)
The district is currently being held by Keith Self (R). Self, 72, has not announced another run.
District 4 – Pat Fallon (R, incumbent) and Brice Gonzales (D)
However, candidates can file for a place on the ballot between Nov. 8 and Dec. 8.
