Trump Justice Department Sends Letter to Texas Claiming Four Districts Are Racial Gerrymanders -- Providing Cover for Mid-Decade Republican Redraw

The Trump Justice Department, through Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, sent a letter to Texas claiming four majority-minority congressional districts (all held by Democrats) were unconstitutional racial gerrymanders under the 5th Circuit's 2024 Petteway decision. This directly contradicted the state's own testimony in ongoing litigation where Texas had argued its maps were drawn using a "race-blind process." Constitutional law expert Justin Levitt said the letter was designed to provide "political and legal cover" for a partisan redraw. It set the stage for Texas's August 20, 2025 mid-decade redistricting adding five GOP seats.