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Texas Redistricting
June Redistricting Update
On June 17, the Governor signed the Senate redistricting map into law. This map will go into effect in September. District 14 remains rooted in Travis County, representing 74% of the total county population. It also expands east to include all of Bastrop County. Bastrop County is an area that I'm excited to represent, where I have many great friendships and relationships.
Take a look at the statewide Senate map in more detail here. The House map was signed by the Governor as well and can be seen here.
Congressional Redistricting
During the special session, the Governor also added congressional redistricting to the agenda. While nine large counties across the state have at least one congressional district wholly contained within their boundaries, Travis County — with 1,024,266 people, almost enough for two entire congressional districts alone — is instead divided five ways. Travis County residents do not comprise a majority, or a plurality, in any of these five districts.
The map divides the City of Austin between six congressional representatives. It unnecessarily slices the minority community in East Austin five ways and ignores traditional communities of interest in Travis County. It will have the effect of cracking a strong coalition of minority voters and like-minded Anglos who have worked together to elect the candidate of their choice for decades.
Senate Bill 4 was drawn in secret and debated in a hurry, resulting in statewide retrogression. It appears that the purpose of the map was not to give Texans a voice in Congress, but rather to advance a political agenda and protect a new majority.
The statewide congressional proposal can be viewed here.
Statement on Senate Redistricting Plan
On May 11, a day before an important public hearing, the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting released a map showing proposed Texas Senate districts for the next decade. The map would divide Travis County into four districts. District 14, which Senator Watson currently represents, would continue to be anchored in Austin and Travis County, though it would also be expanded to include Bastrop County. Senator Watson released this statement about the proposal:
It’s unfortunate that we are just now – so few hours before a critical legislative hearing, and less than three weeks before the end of this legislative session – seeing a map that will impact the lives of people in Travis County so profoundly.
For decades, minority voters have successfully joined in coalition with like-minded others to elect the candidates of their choice. There is no good reason to divide this coalition – just as there is no good reason for Travis County, which easily has the population and communities of interest to entirely contain one Senate district – to be split up in this way.
The proposed District 14 maintains Travis County and the City of Austin as an anchor. This part of the proposed district is one I know well, and the people know me. I have represented and worked for these parts of Travis County, in one capacity or another, for almost 15 years. And I have deep friendships and relationships in Bastrop County. If this map holds, then this is a district I will run and win in.
But this isn’t about me.
This is about the people of Travis County, who may soon be divided yet again for no good reason. And this is about a process that has excluded them.
Other news about Central Texas Redistricting
Redistricting committee rejects Watson map
Communities of interest and communities of confusion
How goofy is Travis plan? It's off the charts
Travis County would be split four ways under state Senate redistricting map
Recent Updates from Senator Kirk Watson
Statement by Senator Kirk Watson Objecting to Adoption of CSHB 600
Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map . . .
Ready or not - Redistricting
Senate Districts and Redistricting
Austin and Travis County Influence Should be Protected
The Census Numbers
Redistricting Basics
Both the U.S. and the Texas Constitutions mandate that we redraw our legislative district lines following every new census. So, even with the difficult state budget and normal legislative challenges ahead, redistricting must be tackled too. 
The United States does a census every ten years as required by the Constitution. The Census Bureau delivered those results to Texas in February and the Texas Legislature is beginning the process of redrawing the districts. The process is a bit different for the State House and State Senate than for Congress.
State House and Senate
The Texas House of Representatives has 150 members while the State Senate has 31 members. Each District must be drawn with almost exactly the same number of people. According to census information, each Senate District should have around 811,147 people and each State House District should have 167,637 people.
The State House District lines can't cross county boundaries unless necessary to reach the minimum population required.
The Lt. Governor has appointed the Senate's Select Committee on Redistricting. The House Committee has also been appointed.
Any member of the House or Senate can draw maps and submit a map as legislation which then follows the same legislative path as any other bill. If a map passes the House and Senate it goes to the Governor for his signature or veto.
If the Legislature fails to come to agreement or the Governor vetoes the map for State House and/or State Senate district lines, the responsibility to draw a map falls to the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB) which is made up of:
- the Lt. Governor
- the Speaker of the Texas House
- the Attorney General
- the Comptroller of Public Accounts
- the Land Commissioner
Congressional
Every ten years the United States reapportions the Congressional Districts to each state based on population. Because Texas grew so fast over the last ten years, Texas will get four new Congressional Districts, for a total of 36, starting in 2012. These new districts are due almost entirely to the growth in Hispanic and African American populations. Each Congressional District will have 698,488 people. The Congressional maps are also introduced as bills and can originate in either the House or the Senate. Each Congressional District must have the same number of people.
However, if the Legislature fails to come to agreement or if the Governor vetoes a plan for congressional district lines, the responsibility does not go to the LRB, but goes directly to the courts to determine congressional district boundaries.
Learn more about Redistricting
Guide to 2011 Redistricting
State and Federal Law Governing Redistricting in Texas
Texas Redistricting History
See the current maps for:
State Senate Districts
State House Districts
Congressional Districts
State School Board Districts
See all the maps above in an interactive web tool
Find out more about Texas Senate Districts
Population Analysis with County Subtotals
Population Analysis with Cities and CDPs
Population and Voter Data
