Redistricting Ruling Out

The three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a court-ordered remedy map to rectify Texas’ Congressional District 23, which was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this summer. In the process, the Court changed a total of five districts: 23, 28, 24, 25 and 15.

[Order, Opinion, Map, Election Analysis, Population Analysis]

New elections have been ordered in a winner-take-all style in these districts on Election Day, with run-offs in December if necessary.

Here are the district make-ups, old vs. new:

CD 23 Current Makeup: El Paso (part), Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Reeves, Pecos, Persidio, Brewster, Terrell, Crockett, Sutton (part), Valverde, Edwards, Real, Kerr, Bandera, Kendall, Medina, Zavala, Demitt, Webb (part), Maverick, Bexar (part).

CD 23 New Makeup: El Paso (part), Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Reeves, Pecos, Persidio, Brewster, Terrell, Crockett, Sutton (part), Val Verde, Edwards, Medina, Zavala, Demitt, , Maverick, Bexar (adds southern portion).
Cedes: Kendall, Kerr, Bandera, Real, Webb
Gains: Southern Portion, Bexas County
Leans: Toss-Up, between 46.3% (2004) and 50.1% (2002) Democratic

+++++++

CD 28 Current Makeup: Bexar (part), Guadalupe (part), Hays (part), Wilson, Atascosa, Frio, Lasalle, McMullen, Webb (part), Zapata.

CD 28 New Makeup: Frio, Guadalupe, Hidalgo (33%) Jim Hogg, La Salle, McMullen, Starr, Webb (all), Wilson, Zapata.

Cedes: Hays, southern portion of Bexas, small portion of eastern Comal.
Gains: eastern portion of Bexar, remainder of Webb, Jim Hogg, Star, southwestern portion of Hidalgo.
Leans: Solid Democratic (51.4% (2004) to 63.4% (2002) Democratic)

+++++++

CD 21 Current Makeup: Travis (part), Hays (part), Comal (part), Blanco, Bexar (part).

CD 21 New Makeup: Bandera, Bexas (25%), Blanco, Comal, Kendall, Kerr, Real, Travis (16%).

Alterations: alters northeast portion of Bexar served by district
Cedes: Hays, southern portion of Travis County
Gains: Kendall, Kerr, Bandera, Real
Leans: Solid Republican, between 65.2% (2004) and 68.4% (2002).

+++++

CD 25 Current Makeup: Hidalgo (part), Starr, Jim Hogg, Duval, Live Oak, Karnes, Gonzales, Caldwell, Travis (part).

CD 25 New Makeup: Travis (50%), Lavaca, Hays, Gonzales, Fayette, Colorado, Caldwell, Bastrop (65%).

Gains:southern portion of Travis, Bastrop, Hays, Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca
Cedes: Karnes, Live Oak, Duval, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo
Leans: Solid Democratic, 52.9% (2002) to 55.5% (2004)

+++++++

CD 15 Current Makeup: Cameron (part), Hidalgo (part), Brooks, Jim Wells, San Patricio (part), Bee, Refutio, Goliad, De Witt, Lavaca, Colorado, Fayette, Bastrop (part).

New CD 15 Makeup: Bee, Brooks, Cameron (26%), De Witt, Duval, Goliad, Hidalgo (67%), Jim Wells, Karnes, Live Oak, Refugio, San Patricio (43%).

Gains: Duval, Live Oak, Karnes
Cedes: small portion of western Hidalgo, Bastrop, Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca
Leans: Solid Democratic (54.4 % (2004) to 61.3% (2002)).

Statements

MALDEF, Congressman Charles Gonzalez, and other has a good deal to say about the new remap.

Gonzalez (D-San Antonio), who represents the 20th Congressional District, which was unchanged by the remap,said that the redistricting saga showed the continued need for the recently reauthorized Voting Rights Act:

The map issued today shows the continued need for the Voting Rights Act, which was thankfully reauthorized on July 27th. The 2003 map was an attempt to blunt the voting strength of Latino voters in Webb County and the Supreme Court rightfully struck down that gerrymander. Without the strong protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act, the previous map would still be in effect.

Today is a victory for the Voting Rights Act, yet we must remain vigilant that the right to vote is neither compromised nor negated for minority voters particularly Latinos here in Texas.

I am pleased and relieved that I will continue to represent the citizens of the 20th Congressional District if they see fit to return me to the House of Representatives on Election Day. It has been an honor to serve them in Washington DC, and I hope I will be allowed to do so for another term.

Texas State Representative Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg), who has kept close watch on the redistricting saga through his blog, A Capitol Blog, expressed pleasure that a city in his district anchors one of the newly redrawn districts:

I am pleased that the city of Edinburg anchors one of the Rio Grande Valley districts in the map released by the federal redistricting panel,” said State Representative Aaron Peña. “Unfortunately we have lost a strong advocate and friend in Congressman Lloyd Doggett. I do look forward to continuing to work with our congressional leaders for the betterment of our community.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), whose district was changed by the remap said the court’s plan restores Hispanic voting strength in South Texas:

Hispanic voting strength has been restored in South Texas today. I commend the panel of federal judges for setting partisanship aside and upholding the rights of all voters.

While I deeply regret losing my valued constituents in Bexar, Comal, and Hays Counties, I look forward to working with the people of Jim Hogg, Starr, and Hidalgo Counties.

I believe that the court’s map is both fair and constitutional, and I’m delighted to be the sole representative for my hometown of Laredo, and Webb County.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), however, hailed the map as only a partial victory. MALDEF Southwestern Regional Counsel Nina Perales noted:

We are very pleased that the District Court replaced the Legislature’s illegal configuration of District 23 and increased the Latino population in that district. However, we are concerned that the District Court did not go far enough to restore District 23. The new plan for District 23 cuts out Webb County and features slightly worse performance by Latino-preferred candidates.

Speculation

Today’s ruling also fuels speculation about who will run where. While Cuellar and Bonillia are likely to continue to run in their current districts, most election watchers in Texas expect former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D-San Antonio) to make a run, possibly in Bonillia’s 23rd District instead of opting for a third re-match with Cuellar. Speculation is also mounting that State Rep. Richard Raymond (D-Laredo) may challenge Henry Cuellar in the newly reconfigured district.

The biggest question that remains unanswered is what Congressional Candidate John Courage will do. Courage isone of the Democratic party’s stars among Texas congressional—on a national and local level—gaining recognition from groups like Democracy for America and Governor Mark Warner’s political action committee. Courage, who is running against Rep. Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio) in the old 21, saw key Travis County territory—Democratic precincts—slip away in the court’s new remap. It seems most likely, however, that if Courage continues his race (when remedy maps first started being examined, he indicated he would) it would be in CD 21.

The other affected districts, CD 15 and CD 25, will likely not change hands from their current Congressmen: Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) for CD 25 and Ruben Hinojosa (D-Mercedes) for CD 15.

Bookmark It