I will leave to others an analysis of winners and losers in redistricting. The only point I want to make is something the Republicans refuse to accept: You can’t ignore demographics. Republicans drew a map that maximized Republican seats and ignored Hispanic population gains. No one should be surprised that the federal courts did not let the map stand. It would have been simple enough for Republicans to squeeze a few more minority seats into South Texas and the Metroplex, but they didn’t want to do it. That refusal put the entire map at risk. Why Republican mapmakers thought they could ignore Hispanic growth statewide is a mystery. Virtually all of the population growth statewide is due to Hispanic gains. (I haven’t seen the San Antonio court’s congressional map yet, but the reason Texas has four new seats is due to Hispanic population growth.) And yet, the Republicans did everything they could to avoid drawing new Hispanic seats.
Redistricting: the House
By
Date
Share
- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
- Email a link to this page
-
https://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/redistricting-the-house/
Notes
News & Politics
Our latest stories and analysis, sent to your inbox each week.
Read More
-
Who Were the Texans Who Traveled to the Capitol to Challenge the Election Results?
By Sierra Juarez and Peter Holley
-
The Texas Legislature Made It Just Three Days Without a COVID-19 Scare
By Andrea Zelinski
-
Amid a Spate of Late-Term Trump Pardons, Reality Winner’s Name Remains Conspicuously Absent
By Leif Reigstad
-
Rita Clements, The Power Behind a Governor, Dies at 86
By R.G. Ratcliffe
-
U.S. Immigration Director Threatens to Jail Elected Officials in Sanctuary Cities
By R.G. Ratcliffe
Comments