NewsABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsOctober 28, 2026Hillsborough County
Texas Legislature redraws Congressional District 34, dividing Corpus Christi neighbors and Rio Grande Valley agricultural interests
Photo: ABC Action News (WFTS) — News
The Republican-led Texas Legislature redrew congressional maps by using a strategy known as 'cracking' to divide communities in Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley into separate districts. Effective in January, neighbors on opposite sides of streets will have different congressional representatives, and some farmers and ranchers now have land and business interests split across districts.
Read the full story at ABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsWhy It Matters
Residents and agricultural landowners face changes to their congressional representation and electoral influence ahead of the 2026 midterms due to newly drawn district boundaries.
Key Facts
- The Texas Legislature redrew congressional maps, altering District 34.
- The redrawing strategy utilized 'cracking,' which divides communities among districts to dilute electoral influence.
- Corpus Christi, which predominantly votes Democrat, was carved into separate sections.
- Parts of the Rio Grande Valley were split into separate districts, dividing land and business interests for some farmers and ranchers.
- Residents across the same street, such as on Craig Street, will have different congressional representatives starting in January.
- The redrawing was executed based on the political assumption that Latino voters who supported Donald Trump in Texas in 2024 will vote Republican in 2026.
Who's Mentioned
locationMercedes“Town on the district line where Mike England is from”PersonCarol Lowe“Resident living on one side of Craig Street”PersonDonald Trump“U.S. President who received record numbers of Latino votes in Texas in 2024”locationTexas“State where congressional maps were redrawn”PersonMatilda Rodriguez“Resident living on the opposite side of Craig Street from Gudmanson and Lowe”PersonBrian Jones“Farmer living nearby”locationBrownsville“Urban center anchoring the new district to the south”otherDistrict 34“Congressional district that was redrawn”locationRio Grande Valley“Region in Texas with parts split into separate districts”locationCorpus Christi“City in Texas split by the new congressional map”locationCraig Street“Street serving as a new dividing line between congressional districts in Corpus ”PersonDiane Gudmanson“Resident living on one side of Craig Street”PersonMike England“Rancher from Mercedes”