U.S. Rep. Al Inexperienced says he’s ready on the U.S. Supreme Court docket earlier than locking in his 2026 reelection plans, however he’s clear on one factor: He’ll be on the poll, working “from the place the place my house is,” whether or not that finally ends up being Texas’ ninth or 18th Congressional District.
A 3-judge federal panel in El Paso not too long ago dominated that Texas’ new Donald Trump-backed congressional map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and ordered the state to make use of its 2021 map for the 2026 midterms. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lawyer Common Ken Paxton have already appealed to the Supreme Court docket.
Inexperienced, a Houston Democrat who has represented the ninth Congressional District since 2005, filed earlier this month to run within the newly drawn 18th District after Republicans dismantled his present seat and pushed the “9” label to a brand new district based mostly in conservative Liberty County. Below the blocked map, the general public he presently represents — and his house — had been drawn into the brand new 18th.
“I’m not transferring, I’ve by no means moved,” Inexperienced stated in an interview. “I’m staying the place I’ve been for many years.”
‘The strains have moved, not me’
Inexperienced says the map is intentionally complicated. Within the 2025 plan, lawmakers stripped Brazoria County and different areas from his present ninth District after which redrew the 18th to embody his southwest Houston base. Roughly two-thirds of the brand new 18th’s inhabitants got here from the previous ninth, whereas lower than one-third got here from the historic 18th.
“They labeled it 18. After they labeled it 18, my home didn’t transfer. So I didn’t transfer to 18 — 18 moved to me and about 500,000 of the folks I signify,” Inexperienced stated.
On the similar time, the quantity “9” was shipped east to a Liberty County–anchored district that shares virtually none of its voters with the present ninth. Lower than 3% of the voters within the new ninth district overlapped with these within the previous one, a shift Inexperienced factors to as proof that lawmakers had been transferring strains, not folks, and concentrating on communities of coloration.
“That’s gonna offer you some sense of how they will transfer the strains, however not the folks,” he stated. “And the people who had been within the ninth at the moment are within the 18th.”
For Inexperienced, that was proof that race — not conventional districting ideas — drove the map.
“What they did was racist. It was racial discrimination. That’s why I received the lawsuit,” he stated, noting that he’s listed as “Alexander Inexperienced et al.” as a plaintiff-intervener within the case. “If it was an influence seize, it was a racist energy seize. If it was politics, it was racist politics.”
Longtime defender of the ninth and 18th
Inexperienced confused that his determination to file within the new 18th was about staying with the communities he has represented for years, whereas persevering with a authorized battle he has been waging inside and out of doors of courtroom.
“I’ve been preventing to guard the 18th and ninth congressional districts since I’ve been in Congress,” he stated. “Sheila [Jackson Lee] and I did it collectively. After she left us, I continued that battle.”
He stated he has “spent tens of 1000’s of {dollars}” through the years on redistricting lawsuits and views the most recent ruling as a vindication — not only for him, however for Black voters in Houston whose political energy was susceptible to being diluted.
“There’s no person else within the metropolis of Houston, within the 18th congressional district, that has been related to this longer than I’ve,” Inexperienced stated. “I’m very educated about what’s been taking place and what’s taking place now as a result of I’m a celebration to the lawsuit.”
He additionally urged Democrats and civil rights advocates to cease soft-pedaling the language round race.
“We’re coping with racism, and too many people are afraid to say the phrase,” Inexperienced stated. “Don’t let consolation be confused with freedom. Our failure to face up for ourselves is what’s going to trigger the clock to be rolled again on us.”
Particular election now, major battle later
The El Paso ruling has ripple results throughout Harris County. If it stands, it could protect the 4 Democratic-held Home seats anchored within the county, slightly than decreasing them to 3, a significant win for Houston-area Democrats.
It additionally reshapes the stakes within the race to exchange the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner within the present 18th District. Harris County Lawyer Christian Menefee and former Houston Metropolis Council member Amanda Edwards are headed to a Jan. 31 runoff to fill out the rest of Turner’s time period, which ends Jan. 3, 2027.
That particular election is separate from the March 3, 2026, major, which can resolve who serves the following full two-year time period below whichever map in the end governs the 2026 elections.
Inexperienced stated he has been cautious to not step on the continued particular election.
“What I’m making an attempt to do is respect what’s taking place with the individuals who have been working to satisfy the unexpired time period of Congressman Sylvester Turner,” he stated. “This runoff is about that race. That race is separate and aside from what is going to occur after January.”
Ready on the Supreme Court docket — and prepared both means
Below present regulation, candidates have till Dec. 8 to file for the March primaries. Inexperienced has already filed for the brand new 18th District. If the Supreme Court docket lets the decrease courtroom ruling stand and orders Texas to make use of the 2021 map, Inexperienced stated he’ll merely refile within the restored ninth District, which once more would comprise his house and longtime base.
“If the Supreme Court docket upholds the choice issued yesterday … I’m going to stay the place I’m, and I’m going to run within the 18th congressional district,” he stated. “If the courtroom says the 18th isn’t good [and reverts to the old lines], I’m within the ninth district. Then I’m going to run from the ninth congressional district. All I’ve to do is refile.”
Inexperienced famous that if the Supreme Court docket guidelines after the present Dec. 8 deadline, the decrease courtroom might lengthen the submitting window to permit candidates to regulate — one thing he stated has occurred in previous redistricting fights.
“I’ve been down this street earlier than,” he stated. “Both means, I shall be on the poll. I’ve by no means stated that I wouldn’t be on the poll.”
At backside, Inexperienced stated, his determination is anchored much less in numbers on a map than in neighborhoods he’s served for many years.
“I’ll run from the place the place my house is,” he stated. “I’ve all the time held that place.”
