Texas GOP Redistricting Chair Confesses to Ignoring Key Census Data: What This Means for Voter Representation

Republicans in Texas are trying to gain up to five more seats in Congress, a move supported by former President Donald Trump. However, this effort has sparked strong opposition from Democrats, who are actively trying to halt the redistricting plans. Recently, a House hearing in Houston saw a huge turnout, with so many residents speaking out that the committee ran out of signup sheets.

During the hearing, Rep. Cody Vasut (R), who heads the redistricting committee, admitted he wasn’t aware that most of Texas’s population growth in the last decade has come from communities of color. “I don’t have that census data in front of me,” he remarked. This lack of knowledge raises questions about the motivations behind the redistricting.

Democrats are skeptical of the Republicans’ reasoning. State Rep. Gene Wu (D) pointed out that while they have the governor’s backing to hold the hearings, the purpose remains unclear. Governor Greg Abbott, who set redistricting on the agenda, has largely stayed silent about it, mentioning only “constitutional concerns” raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.

A letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon highlighted four congressional districts, mostly in Houston and Dallas, as potentially unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering. This is a significant claim, especially since Republican leaders previously stated that race wasn’t a factor in drawing the current map.

In a more aggressive move, Sen. Phil King (R), who oversees the Senate redistricting committee, invited Dhillon to testify about her findings. Vasut mentioned he might extend a similar invitation but expressed doubt about his ability to enforce it since she is a federal official. This has led to discussions among Senate Democrats about their own subpoena powers.

While Vasut has yet to provide a proposed map, he confirmed the law firm handling the redistricting, Butler Snow, will exclusively represent Republican interests. Meanwhile, without new data or a clear map, Democrats find themselves at a disadvantage, unsure of what they are up against.

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) voiced concerns that the redistricting could weaken the voting power of minority communities. Currently, the majority of districts represented by Democrats include majority-minority populations. This is critical because these districts are where minority voters consistently have a say in elections.

Bishop James Dixon, president of Houston’s NAACP, emphasized that redistricting isn’t just a political issue—it’s about basic rights. He described the situation as one where politics threatens access to essential services like healthcare and food for many Texan communities. “This is against the laws of God, and not just the laws of the legislature,” he stated, highlighting the moral dimensions at stake.

As discussions continue, it’s clear that the outcome of this redistricting effort will have a lasting impact on Texas’s political landscape and the lives of its residents. The situation remains dynamic, and both sides are gearing up for a vigorous battle over the future representation in Congress.

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