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In 2003 Republicans got their turn. They had finally been able to wrest control of both houses of the Legislature away from the Democrats in the 2002 elections, opening the door for yet another attempt at redistricting, this time under their exclusive control. After a tumultuous series of events during which Democrats twice broke the quorum (the minimum number of members present) needed for each house of the Legislature to conduct business on the floor, the Republicans finally prevailed with a new map of congressional districts that put up to seven Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives at risk of defeat during the 2004 elections.1
Key to the Republican efforts in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, was the dilution of minorities in Martin Frost's District 24. Under the previous district map, a majority of the voting age population (VAP) belonged to racial and ethnic minority groups (see table).
Voting Age Population in Dallas-Fort Worth Area Congressional Districts, 2001 and 2004 (with 2003-2004 incumbents)2
| |
Black |
Hispanic |
Total B & H |
| District 3: Sam Johnson (R) |
| 2001 |
6.4 |
12.9 |
19.1 |
| 2004 |
9.1 |
15.3 |
24.3 |
| District 6: Joe Barton (R) |
| 2001 |
9.7 |
11.7 |
21.3 |
| 2004 |
12.3 |
13.9 |
26.0 |
| District 24: Martin Frost (D) |
| 2001 |
21.4 |
33.6 |
54.6 |
| 2004 |
9.3 |
15.8 |
24.9 |
| District 26: Burgess (R) |
| 2001 |
5.1 |
10.0 |
15.0 |
| 2004 |
15.0 |
12.5 |
27.4 |
| District 30: Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) |
| 2001 |
40.3 |
27.7 |
67.7 |
| 2004 |
41.0 |
30.7 |
71.4 |
| District 32: Pete Sessions (R) |
| 2001 |
9.1 |
24.1 |
33.0 |
| 2004 |
7.8 |
31.4 |
39.0 |
Under the new plan minorities as a percentage of voters increased somewhat in five of the six districts in the Metroplex area. But the minorities as a percentage of voters in District 24 plummeted, from just more than half of the voting age population to about one-quarter.
Republicans justified the map and the particular treatment of Frost by pointing to the excesses of the Democratic Party during the 1991 redistricting effort. In short, they argued, there is nothing unusual in the new map, and it is hypocritical for Democrats to complain after everything they've done in the past.
Next: The Future of Redistricting in Texas >
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