ARLINGTON, Texas — Hundreds of people packed into a theater at UT Arlington to tell Texas lawmakers their thoughts on plans to redraw state congressional maps , while hundreds of others listened on their phones and in an overflow room outside.

The vast majority spoke in opposition to the plans, which come after President Donald Trump called for the state to work to increase the Republican seats in its congressional delegation by as many as five seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Republican-led legislature has not released any proposed maps, but a letter from the Department of Justice raised concerns about four districts it said were illegally racially gerrymandered -- including the one won by North Texas Democrat Marc Veasey.

"This is not what Texas needs right now," Vea

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