Lawmakers must redraw the state’s political maps to account for a decade’s worth of growth, but the process leaves enough room for political manipulation. Here’s how it’ll work.
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.
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Redistricting Texas
Texas Senate opens redistricting debate with proposed map one senator labels “intentional discrimination”
The first draft of the Senate map was authored by a Republican who chairs the Senate Redistricting Committee. It immediately drew fire from a Democratic member who said her district was being redrawn to dilute voting power of people of color.
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Redistricting Texas
In a changing Texas, Republicans will begin redistricting with more freedom to draw their maps
Facing demographic changes that work against their political dominance, Republicans will be able to redraw politically advantageous maps — and shield themselves from the change — without federal oversight for the first time in decades.
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Redistricting Texas
Barely underway, Texas redistricting draws its first lawsuit challenging Legislature’s authority to redraw legislative maps
Two Democratic state senators filed the federal suit arguing the Texas Constitution does not allow lawmakers to meet in special session to draw up state House and Senate districts. They’re asking the courts to do it instead.
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Redistricting Texas
People of color make up 95% of Texas’ population growth, and cities and suburbs are booming, 2020 census shows
The state’s Hispanic population is now nearly as large as the non-Hispanic white population, with Texas gaining nearly 11 Hispanic residents for every additional white resident since 2010. Those trends set up a pitched battle for political control when state lawmakers redraw legislative districts.
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Redistricting Texas
Analysis: Redistricting is boring, and that’s why it’s hazardous to voters
Most voters don’t pay a lot of attention to the redrawing of political maps every 10 years. That’s just the way legislators like it.
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Redistricting Texas
Texas will gain two seats in Congress as residents of color drive population gains
Texas will have 38 congressional seats as a result of the latest U.S. census. It’s one of six states to gain seats, and it’s the only state that will get more than one.
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Texas Legislature 2021
The 2021 redistricting process will impact Texas politics for the next 10 years. Here’s how it’ll work.
Republicans will control the process, but a legal and political fight is sure to commence over who is empowered and whose voice is diluted.
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Redistricting Texas
How a decade of voting rights fights led to fewer redistricting safeguards for Texas voters of color
In a state with a long history of discrimination, lawmakers on Tuesday will kick off the 2021 round of political mapmaking — the first in nearly half a century without federal oversight.
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Texas Elections 2018
Gerrymandering backfired for Texas Republicans in Dallas County in 2018
Republicans hoped to keep a majority Texas House seats from Dallas County when they redrew district boundaries in 2011. Seven years later, they’ve only held onto two of 14.