Penelope
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- Jul 15, 2014
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The Republicans who control Southern legislatures have recently slashed the number of election districts that allow Black and Latino voters to elect their preferred candidates, and federal courts have largely refused to step in this year to protect voters of color from discrimination. But in Texas, where election districts have violated the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in every decade since the law's enactment in 1965, state and federal gerrymandering lawsuits are moving forward.
The U.S. Supreme Court, which has overturned court rulings in Alabama and other states that sought to require more VRA districts, recently declined to block Texas lawmakers from having to testify in a federal racial gerrymandering lawsuit that includes several challenges to both legislative and congressional districts.
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Among other things, the lawsuits allege that the GOP violated the VRA and the U.S. Constitution by intentionally discriminating against voters of color in Dallas, Fort Worth, and West Texas. They also argue that the districts in Houston had the effect of disenfranchising Asian, Black, and Latino voters.
www.facingsouth.org
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“Because in some of the states... like Texas, Florida and North Carolina, redistricting is controlled by one party, it gives them a huge advantage because they can aggressively draw the map however they want,” Li said. “Aggressive gerrymandering could give Republicans a House majority in 2022.”
The U.S. Supreme Court, which has overturned court rulings in Alabama and other states that sought to require more VRA districts, recently declined to block Texas lawmakers from having to testify in a federal racial gerrymandering lawsuit that includes several challenges to both legislative and congressional districts.
and
Among other things, the lawsuits allege that the GOP violated the VRA and the U.S. Constitution by intentionally discriminating against voters of color in Dallas, Fort Worth, and West Texas. They also argue that the districts in Houston had the effect of disenfranchising Asian, Black, and Latino voters.
Will courts hold Texas accountable for gerrymandering communities of color? | Facing South
Texas is heading to court to defend new election districts that divide and disempower Black and Latino communities while benefiting the GOP. The districts remain in play for this year's elections, but judges could order new ones before 2024.
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“Because in some of the states... like Texas, Florida and North Carolina, redistricting is controlled by one party, it gives them a huge advantage because they can aggressively draw the map however they want,” Li said. “Aggressive gerrymandering could give Republicans a House majority in 2022.”

Texas will gain 2 congressional seats. Seven states to lose 1 seat, Census Bureau data shows
California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia each lost one seat.
www.usatoday.com