Texas’ new redistricting maps are now law after Gov. Greg Abbott signs GOP-backed bills
By: Sami Sparber
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed into law new political maps drawn by Republicans that cement the GOP’s grip on power for the next decade but blunt the voting strength of nonwhite voters who fueled Texas’ population surge.
Critics say the redrawn congressional, legislative and State Board of Education maps do not reflect the major growth of the Hispanic community, which made up nearly half of the state’s population gain since 2020. People of color accounted for 95% of the state’s population boom over the last decade, with much of the growth concentrated in cities and suburban areas, census data show.
“With his signature today, Governor Abbott continues the shameful five-decade-long tradition of ramming through extremely gerrymandered maps in an undemocratic process,” Anthony Gutierrez, Common Cause Texas executive director, said in a news release. “These racially and partisan gerrymandered maps deny every voter in Texas from having an equal say in the issues we care about most, like a stronger economy, better schools, and affordable healthcare.”
Abbott’s office didn’t release any remarks about the bill signing.
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has already asked a federal court to toss out the maps , arguing the redrawn boundaries violate the federal Voting Rights Act and dilute the voting strength of Hispanic voters. The new maps are generally expected to withstand legal challenges, but battles over aspects of the boundaries could last several years.
A second federal lawsuit against the maps was filed Monday, with advocacy organization Voto Latino and a group of individual voters arguing the new U.S. House boundaries dilute Latino and Black voting strength in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Because Abbott signed the redistricting plans before a Nov. 15 deadline set by state lawmakers, the primary election is slated for March 1, 2022.
Abbott also signed other bills on Monday that were passed during the third special legislative session, including a measure that would clarify existing state law regarding the safety of dogs chained outside and make the statute easier to enforce. The governor vetoed similar legislation in June.
Also on the list of signings was a resolution authorizing a constitutional amendment to go before voters next May that would increase the homestead exemption for school taxes to $40,000, up from $25,000. It would save the owner of a $300,000 home about $176 a year in property taxes.
And he signed a bill requiring athletes in public schools to play on sports teams that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate.
This year, Republican lawmakers have a clearer path toward using the redistricting lines they want because Texas is no longer required to get federal approval on new political maps. For decades, every Texas redistricting plan has been either changed or tossed out by a federal court after being found in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Article is LOCKED by moderator [Split Personality]
Plenty of red meat in this article.
Past and present Presidents are off topic, thanks
I may be crazy, but I think that the "districts" should be counties. That way no one can change them. But that's just me.
I agree.
If it's a good idea, change the law.
Exactly.
So you are stating that laws cannot be changed? Once it is a law, that is it, huh....
SCOTUS has already ignored previous SCOTUS decisions on other matters, why do you think this is different?
You said that changing the law was a silly suggestion. Really, you did, it is directly above my question, I even quoted you with my question.
Once again it appears that your inability to speak clearly and concisely is affecting the conversation.
I said that if it was a good idea, the law should be changed. You replied with "It is a silly suggestion". (notice the quotation marks?)
Yes.
Because.... math.
Sometimes the simplest solutions like yours are the hardest for politicians to grasp.
They like to overcomplicate things so even they can't understand them. Then they manipulate it again & again. It would be nice if our government representatives actually represented us.
Congressional districts have to all be roughly the same size population, all across the country. There is a little variation for the particularly small states , but the principle is always there.
It would be impossible to use county borders to create congressional districts .
But it is not impossible to redraw them to suit the wants & desires of whatever political party is "in charge"?
Nothing is impossible. Stop drawing lines that bisect counties - combine counties if necessary BUT leave the lines as county lines. This redistricting is bullshit - it is time to represent all the people, not just those you think will vote for you (you being used in reference to representatives).
That is true for Congressional Districts only.
Texas allows a 10% differential for State Rep districts, State Senate districts and who knows what else.
We have Community Precincts, JP precincts, City, City Counsel, Schools, SBOE(?) Water and others.
Lets say you have a county of one million people , and the congressional district size is 750,000. The best you could do is keep one congressional district entirely within the county and another one would be partially in that county and partially in an adjacent county. This would be ideal, but many many counties across the country dont have 1 million people.
I agree though that the congressional district boundaries should be kept as uniformly shaped as possible.
Yeah - let's just keep redistricting then because that is fair.
Oh well. I still back the idea though.
We are already in an early voting situation. Mail in ballot applications weren't mailed out so we will have to vote in person.
My current Voter card says district 26 but we are now in 33?
Wtf?
Predictably the phones at the local election office are experiencing long wait times.
Correction, now we are in 24.
Texas redistricting map: Find your new districts | The Texas Tribune
Redistricting should be done by bi partisan committees from the state legislature. The same number of Democrats and Republicans. Then, at the least, there would have to be horse trading. No one party should control redistricting in any state. It is undemocratic.
Agreed. Butt fairness seems to have been tossed long ago.
As will this one, if it is in violation. The article mentions 2 federal lawsuits already filed with more to come I'm sure.
I did find this which was helpful.
Texas redistricting map: Find your new districts | The Texas Tribune
The Texas Republicans are having so much success with their restrictive laws, with support from that Republican SCOTUS, that I wouldn't be surprised if they were to pass a law that only white Christians are allowed to vote, and to have babies.