Provided by Galveston County
Galveston County commissioners approved a new precinct map on June 29, 2026.
Galveston County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to adopt new precinct boundaries for elected commissioners, constables and justices of the peace. The decision comes as the county continues to defend itself against claims that its previous map weakened the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters.
The new lines take effect immediately and notably change the boundaries of Precinct 3, which has been at the center of the debate since commissioners radically shrunk the precinct’s boundaries in 2021. It had been the county’s one precinct in which non-white voters represented a majority.
Even though Black and Latino residents combine to make up nearly 40% of the Galveston County population, people of color no longer made up the majority of a single precinct with the map approved in 2021, according to previous Houston Public Media reporting.
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While the newly drawn lines change the boundaries of Precinct 3 once again, Galveston County resident Lucille McGaskey said the new map still does not fairly represent minority voters.
“The redrawn lines will not give a minority candidate a fair shot. They drew the lines for them to pick the politician. This is not for the people to pick the politician,” McGaskey told Houston Public Media after Monday’s vote.
The move by Galveston County leaders comes about two months after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which bans raced-based gerrymandering. The court’s decision, in a Louisiana case, makes it harder to bring voter discrimination claims against electoral maps.
Throughout roughly two hours of public comment ahead of the Galveston County commissioners’ vote Monday, residents expressed concern about the idea that the redrawn maps essentially decide the representatives for many residents.
“Just imagine if you or your family was placed in a precinct where you didn’t have a choice to elect someone that shares your same thoughts and beliefs. When you redraw these boundaries that divide long-standing communities, you are not just adjusting lines on the map. You are separating people who share history, culture, living experience,” Galveston County resident Robert Maddox Sr. said at the meeting.
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Many residents, like Mae Francis, showed up to speak on behalf of Precinct 3 specifically.
“What has Precinct 3 done to deserve this? It seems that every chance you guys get, you come for precinct number three to break us down, separate us and pull us apart. To that, we say shame on you,” Francis said.
Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said the new map will improve judicial function for the justices of the peace, create opportunities for fiscal efficiencies within the county government and enhance partisan outcomes.
“It has always been my belief that overlapping constable, justice of Peace, and commissioner precincts would be the most efficient and beneficial setup. I ran on the promise of being a fiscal conservative and turning Galveston County Republican. This map accomplishes just that,” Henry said in a Monday afternoon statement emailed to Houston Public Media.
Henry and Galveston County’s four commissioners, who make up the commissioners court that leads the county government, are all Republicans. Precinct 4 County Commissioner Robin Armstrong, who is Black, is the only non-white commissioner.
Henry, Armstrong and Precinct 2 County Commissioner Joe Giusti are up for reelection this year. Armstrong and Giusti were unopposed in the GOP primary in March and also will be unopposed in the November general election. Henry beat a Republican challenger in his primary and is facing Democrat Albert Smith in November.
Galveston County
Galveston County Commissioners Court approved a new map in November 2021.
After the 2021 map was approved, a group of officeholders sued, claiming the redistricting plan intended to dilute Black and Hispanic voters’ voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2024 reversed a decades-old precedent that allowed different racial and ethnic groups to form coalitions to seek legal remedies under the Voting Rights Act. The 5th Circuit sent the case back to the district court for reconsideration.
According to the Galveston County Daily News, the district court will hold a hearing at the end of July to listen to both sides of the case again after the U.S. Supreme Court’s April decision in the Louisiana case, which undermined the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.