TEXAS LATINO REDISTRICING TASK FORCE OPPOSES NEW TEXAS HOUSE REDISTRICTING MAP
New Plan Reduces Latino Opportunity Districts
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Yesterday, the Texas State House of Representatives passed a redistricting map for State House districts that reduces by one the number of existing Latino opportunity districts. The reduction of Latino opportunity runs afoul of the Voting Rights Act.
The Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force staunchly opposes this retrogressive plan which denies equal voting opportunities to Latinos in Texas.
"In the most recent round of statewide redistricting, the State adopted a redistricting plan for the Texas House of Representatives that resulted in the loss of Latino electoral control in four districts and was blocked by the US Justice Department. It is unconscionable that the State has chosen to take the same discriminatory action this time around," stated the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force.
The Voting Rights Act was enacted by Congress in 1965 to protect racial and ethnic minorities from discrimination in voting. The Act prohibits election changes that "lead to a retrogression in the position of racial [or language] minorities with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise." The new redistricting plan for the Texas House of Representatives eliminates a Latino opportunity district in Corpus Christi (District 33) and does not create new Latino opportunity districts that can offset the loss of District 33.
By contrast, the Texas House plan offered by the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force maintains and even improves existing Latino opportunity districts and also creates three additional Latino opportunity districts. In light of the significant growth in the Latino community since 2000, and the availability of redistricting plans that offer more equitable electoral opportunities for Texas Latinos, the Task Force believes that the new House plan is retrogressive.
The Texas Latino Redistricting Taskforce is a coalition dedicated to the goal of achieving equitable redistricting plans for Texas. Members include, The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; William C. Velasquez Institute, Southwest Voter Registration Project, Texas LULAC, American GI Forum of Texas, Mexican American Bar Association of Texas, Southwest Workers Union, La Fe Policy and Research Center; San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Former Dallas Mayor Pro-Tem, Domingo Garcia
MALDEF's proposed Texas State House map can be found here:
Rep Alonzo (MALDEF Plan) Map 115
Data on the Rep Alonzo (MALDEF) Proposed Map 115 can be found below:
"District Population Analysis"
"Population and Voter Data"
"Incumbents by District"
To view all of the proposed Texas State House maps, visit the Texas Legislative Council.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.
For all media inquiries, please contact Laura Rodriguez.
