Texas lawmakers illegally discriminated against voters of color by drawing new political districts that give white voters more political power despite rapid growth of Hispanic and Black populations, the department claims in its lawsuit.
Redistricting Texas
Texas lawmakers have redrawn political maps for the state’s congressional, House, Senate and Board of Education districts. See which Texas districts your home is in here. Republicans will control the process, which happens every 10 years after new census data is released. But the mapmaking is complicated and contentious, given the state’s recent demographic shifts, the inevitable legal battles and Texas’ long history of discriminating against voters of color.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
Congressional gerrymandering by Texas Republicans cut out the heart of Houston’s Asian community
Asian and Pacific Islander populations surged in Texas over the past decade, but their political power is weakened under new congressional maps. A northwest Houston neighborhood offers a case study in how that was done.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
Texas’ new House map challenged in state court, expanding redistricting fight
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus is arguing that the new state House map violates the Texas Constitution. The lawsuit follows two legal challenges to the state’s new maps previously filed in federal court.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
Analysis: Texas legislators aren’t ready to take self-interest out of redistricting
In Texas, the Legislature draws political maps — with results that predictably favor the party in power. Do independent commissions do any better?
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
With a congressional seat suddenly open, Democrats in the Rio Grande Valley race to recruit for a competitive district
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez announced last week he’ll seek reelection in a new seat, leaving his 15th Congressional District open for the 2022 election. Candidate filing begins Nov. 13.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
Analysis: With grades like these for political maps, Texas won’t be making the honor roll
The new political maps drawn by Texas Republicans have run into some criticism from academics studying gerrymandering. That puts the Texans in the same boat with Illinois Democrats.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
Analysis: Maps bolster Republicans in the Texas Senate, especially the top one
The new political maps drawn by the Texas Senate don’t just favor Republicans; that much was expected from a Republican majority. The maps help Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pick which Republicans he wants in the Senate.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will run for a different House seat in 2022 after redistricting made his more competitive
Texas lawmakers made Gonzalez’s current 15th Congressional District more competitive for Republicans. The representative now plans to run in the 34th District, which is safer for Democrats.
Posted in
Redistricting Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott signs off on Texas’ new political maps, which protect GOP majorities while diluting voices of voters of color
Texas lawmakers drew new maps for the state House and Senate, congressional delegation and State Board of Education. Here’s what Texans should know about the 2021 redistricting outcomes.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Texas’ new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers’ runs
The redistricting process in the GOP-dominated Legislature made many political districts less competitive, which some experts believe might hurt civic engagement.