Federal Court Ruled Texas House Districts Must Be Redrawn
In a 2 to 1 ruling, a panel of federal judges ruled that the Texas state legislature must redraw three districts, because it unconstitutionally discriminates against Hispanic voters.
The judges found the Texas legislature violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Republicans had repeatedly tried to dilute the political power of Latino voters — either packing them into one specific district, or dividing communities between separate districts, a process called “cracking.”
The ruling described a chaotic, hurried process that led to the 2011 congressional maps, redrawn to add four new districts thanks to the state’s rapid population growth.
“The Court finds that this evidence persuasively demonstrates that map drawers intentionally packed and cracked on the basis of race … with the intent to dilute minority voting strength,” Judges Xavier Rodriguez and Orlando Garcia wrote.
Texas Democrats called the ruling a victory for voting rights.
“The San Antonio Federal District Court ruled that Texas Republicans intentionally discriminated against Texas’ diverse new majority,” said Gilberto Hinojosa, the state Democratic Party chairman. “Republicans have ensured that the dark days of discrimination in Texas continue to loom, but the sun will soon shine. In time, justice prevails.”
According to The Hill, “The decision is the latest step in a years-long legal battle over the Texas legislature’s efforts to give Republicans a leg up in congressional races in Texas — a fight that began even before district lines were finalized after the 2010 Census.”
