The redistricting map upheld by a three-judge federal panel Tuesday separates Bell and McLennan counties for the first time in 128 years, and places Bell in a new 31st Congressional District.

The new District 31, anchored by a whole Williamson County, also includes Coryell, Erath, Falls, Hamilton and Milam counties and part of Robertson County.

The political future of U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, remains murky.

For months, congressmen and congressional hopefuls were stuck on the sidelines, confused about which districts they would run in this year.

“I’m excited that we finally know where we’re going to be running,” said U.S. Rep. John R. Carter, R-Round Rock, who already filed for the 31st Congressional District in the Republican primary.

Edwards said he will decide next week whether to run in the new 31st Congressional District or the new 17th Congressional District, which now includes McLennan County and stretches north to the Tarrant County (Fort Worth) line.

Edwards had already filed for the Democratic primary for the old 11th Congressional District, which included Bell, Coryell, Lampasas, McLennan, Bosque, Hamilton, Milam, Mills, San Saba counties and part of Williamson.