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Subscribe to RSSThe date for the primary election in Texas has slipped again -- this time to May 29th.
The panel of three federal judges in charge of re-drawing boundaries for congressional and legislative districts issued an order Thursday setting the date and providing July 31 as the date for a runoff.
The primary was originally set for Super Tuesday -- March 6. But a legal battle over the district boundaries forced a move to April 3. Now the election has been delayed once more, and it could be shifted yet again if further court fights erupt.
Here's the background.
Because of a population boom in Texas, the 2010 census gives the state four more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nearly all that growth was among the Latino and African-American populations -- groups that tend to vote for Democrats. But the state legislature drew up a new map of congressional districts that virtually assured three of the new seats to Republicans.
Because Texas has a history of discriminating against minority groups at election time, the state was required to seek permission to use the new map, a process known as pre-clearance under the Voting Rights Act. A federal court in Washington will rule shortly on the pre-clearance issue.
In the meantime, a separate legal battlefront was opened when civil rights groups sued the state in federal court in Texas. A three-judge panel deemed the state map insufficient and drew up a map on its own to be used on an interim basis, just for this year's election.
But the U.S. Supreme Court, acting on an extremely fast schedule, ruled in late January that the court-drawn map failed to fully consider the legislature's concerns in adjusting district boundaries. This week, the Texas court issued revised maps and ordered new dates for the primary election.
The courts are not finished with the Texas map issue, because the Washington, D.C., panel of judges has yet to rule on the pre-clearance issue. Democrats and minority groups in Texas, who believe the revised map gives Republicans too many of the new seats, are hoping a ruling will keep their legal fight alive.
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Lame witless Feisty joke about Texas in 3...2...1..
Where's Tom DeLay when you need him?
(Does that count?)
Lucky for the GOP they know just where to find Tom DeLay anytime they need his sage advice.
Who's in charge down there? Perry?
Yes, I'm sure that the legal system in Texas knows exactly where to find Mr. DeLay at the moment.
...and if they don't I'm sure they can round up a posse to track him down!
(Does THAT count as the lame, witless Texas joke?)
Who knows where Delay is after he was sentenced to 3 years in prison a year ago.
He is free pending his appeal but probably advising the TX Legislature (Perry) on the skills of gerrymandering and money laundering.
Slack jawed virginia joke already posted.
It looks like Texas will eventually hold their primary in December after they are through marginalizing the minority vote.
Yet you pathetically devote your life to marginalizing people, groups of people, states, etc. post after post...day after day....week after week...
So what do you think about the states, the states that are going broke, that can't provide jobs, that turn the middle class into the poor .... the reasons all those "marginalized minorities" are leaving liberal states like California to move to Texas?
More important to just marginalize and focus on Texas, huh?
Typical liberal.
I've lived in Southeast Texas all of my life. I'm territorial so I will be here until the good Lord says different. Southeast Texas have a long way to go as far as equality is concerned. White will always be right in Southeast Texas. That sort of mentality stunts growth.
DA NOID INSTA-POLL!!!
Which event will happen first?
A. Texas GOP Primary
B. Texas Secession
@ Da Noid....... I Vote for:
B. Texas Secession
Perry no likee when the feds get into Texas business!....Actually, he's been rather quiet since getting bounced off the national stage. Or he's preparing for his re-run in 2016......this may get him fired up again.
Perry is soooo Bush. We Texas Republicans sho is smart (:
Okay, so there is historical precedence to require Texas to obtain approval for their new map.
But wait, there's more . . .
Huh. It seems there is still a reason for Texas to get approval for its redistricting map. Even after 50 years, they still haven't learned.
Kinda sad, isn't it, Matthew? I hope they figure it out before the end of the primary season so that voters get a chance to participate. Even though I'm not Republican, I always encourage everyone to vote and let their voices be heard.
I'd love for Texas "go purple" this fall! (Blue would be even better, but I know that's a very long shot--especially since Glen Beck has moved to Dallas and set up shop!)
Matthew, I could not have said it better. AMEN!
"Because Texas has a history of discriminating against minority groups at election time, the state was required to seek permission to use the new map, a process known as pre-clearance under the Voting Rights Act."
Ethnic discrimination? Really? Sounds like SOP for the GOP to me.
Most of the growth in Texas were in the major population areas of DFW, Houston, San Antonio/Austin, and South Texas along the border. To add four new districts these are the most likely places to add. As anyone can see from the district maps, there are many districts stretching out from these four metro areas into rural areas, which has been the case for decades.
Unfortunately, Texas is a BIG state geographically and the courts can't please everyone. This is the third map in eight months, two of which have been drawn by what should be independent and unbiased federal courts. Whatever the courts draw both parties will cry gerrymandering. The big fuss is over 4 new districts, nothing more and nothing less.