The El Paso City Council is calling on the Texas Legislature to rethink its redistricting plans.
The City Council is poised to pass a resolution urging lawmakers not to remove key portions of the city from congression District 16 as part of its redistricting plan during a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 5.
District 16 is El Paso’s main congressional district.
The City Council action comes as Texas Republicans move to redraw congressional maps in a bid to assist President Donald Trump in maintaining a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm election.
From left to right: Current congressional map for District 16 in Texas. The proposed District 16 map unveiled by Texas Republicans would remove Fort Bliss and the El Paso International Airport from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s District 16.
The new map calls for Fort Bliss and El Paso International Airport to be shifted to congressional District 23, which is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio. U.S Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, currently represents District 16.
The resolution notes the various impacts the post and the airport represent for the city, including the following:
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$15.4 billion worth of goods and $3.7 billion worth of merchandise moved through the airport’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 68 last year
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The airport boasts an average of 55 departures each day and a total of four million travelers each year
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Fort Bliss has a $4 billion impact on the El Paso economy directly or indirectly employs more than 130,000 people
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In 2020, there were 38,000 active duty personnel who lived in the city and another 3,000 who made El Paso home after being released from active duty.
More: Texas residents speak out on District 16 changes at Texas Senate hearing
“(If) the proposed map is approved, a significant portion of our city, including Fort Bliss, with its VA Health Care Center, and the (El Paso International Airport) will be represented by a congressional delegation member based over 550 miles away as opposed to a member based within the city, familiar with the needs and services of our city and its residents,” the resolution states. “(Drawing) a district boundary that excludes the El Paso International Airport and Fort Bliss from being represented by a congressional representative who is locally based and understands the needs of these key community assets and the critical role they play in the strength and resilience of our community removes the close working relationship that has proven vital for federal funding opportunities and constant cohesive support for both (the El Paso International Airport) and Fort Bliss.”
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council resolution opposes changes to congressional district
