How redistricting could affect Lampasas County

  • A new map under consideration by the Texas Legislature would put Lampasas County in Congressional District 31 with Mills, Hamilton, Coryell and most of Bell, Burnet and Williamson counties -- an area much more compact than the District 11 group of counties it has been paired with since 2021. ERICK MITCHELL | DISPATCH RECORD
    A new map under consideration by the Texas Legislature would put Lampasas County in Congressional District 31 with Mills, Hamilton, Coryell and most of Bell, Burnet and Williamson counties -- an area much more compact than the District 11 group of counties it has been paired with since 2021. ERICK MITCHELL | DISPATCH RECORD
  • ERICK MITCHELL | DISPATCH RECORD Lampasas County currently is represented by Congressman August Pfluger of District 11. The counties in that congressional district are shown here in blue.
    ERICK MITCHELL | DISPATCH RECORD Lampasas County currently is represented by Congressman August Pfluger of District 11. The counties in that congressional district are shown here in blue.
  • U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-San Angelo) has been to various gatherings in Lampasas while serving the county in Congress. A new congressional map under consideration by the Texas Legislature would move Lampasas County to a different district. FILE PHOTO
    U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-San Angelo) has been to various gatherings in Lampasas while serving the county in Congress. A new congressional map under consideration by the Texas Legislature would move Lampasas County to a different district. FILE PHOTO

    Lampasas County could have new representation in Washington, D.C., if plans to reconfigure the state’s congressional map move forward.

    Despite having adopted new congressional districts just four years ago, Texas lawmakers are gearing up for redistricting during the ongoing special session called by the governor. A new map has been proposed by Rep. Todd Hunter (R–Corpus Christi).

    Under Hunter’s plans, Lampasas County residents no longer would be constituents of Congressman August Pfluger (R–San Angelo) in the 11th District. Instead, the county would be placed in District 31, represented by Congressman John Carter (R–Round Rock).

    The redistricting map proposed by Hunter has Lampasas County grouped with Mills, Hamilton, Coryell and parts of Burnet, Williamson and Bell counties.

    Under the current map, the District 11 stretches from Ector County all the way to western parts of Bell County.

    Typically, redistricting in Texas happens each decade after a new census is completed. The state’s congressional map has been redrawn in 2001, 2011 and 2021 after a census, with 2003 the only year lawmakers opted for mid-decade redistricting that saw Republicans gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Before Gov. Greg Abbott made redistricting one of his special session priorities in a proclamation on July 21, Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice about the legality of four Texas congressional districts. All districts were won handily by Democrats in the 2024 General Election.

    Currently, Texas has 38 representatives in the U.S. House -- 25 Republicans, 12 Democrats and 1 vacancy (18th District) that leans heavy blue in the Houston area. President Donald Trump is pushing GOP lawmakers to develop a map that plays more favorably for Republicans in 2026.

    When asked by reporters earlier this summer what he’d like to see from Texas redistricting, Trump said he hopes to see five seats shift from Democrat to Republican.

    Texas may not be the only state where Republicans hope to gain seats in Congress.

    “I think we get five, and there could be some other states we are going to get another three or four or five in addition,” Trump said, speaking to reporters in mid-July. “Texas would be the biggest one, and that would be fine.”

    To combat Trump’s plans, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said The Golden State will redraw its congressional maps to favor Democrats and shrink the number of Republican representatives.

    House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D–New York) was in Austin on Thursday alongside U.S. House Democrats to criticize Trump and Texas Republicans’ proposed redistricting plan.

    “Donald Trump has ordered Greg Abbott and compliant Texas Republicans to have a special session in order to rig the congressional map and undermine the ability of Texans to have a free and fair midterm election,” Jeffries said in a news conference Thursday.

    A new map is still a long way from approval. Texas lawmakers held their first hearing on the topic on Friday in Austin, with more deliberations set to come this week.