http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/U-S-Supreme-Court-will-hear-Texas-redistricting-12494272.php
U.S. Supreme Court will hear Texas redistricting case
Updated 3:23 pm, Friday, January 12, 2018
36. Beto O’Rourke (El Paso) - Texas's 16th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.541
More squiggly than: 1.4 percent of U.S. districts
36. Beto O’Rourke (El Paso) - Texas's 16th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.541
More squiggly than: 1.4 percent of U.S. districts
35. Michael Burgess (Lewisville) - Texas's 26th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.464
More squiggly than: 5.1 percent of U.S. districts
35. Michael Burgess (Lewisville) - Texas's 26th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.464
More squiggly than: 5.1 percent of U.S. districts
34. John Carter (Round Rock) - Texas's 31st congressional district
Compactness score: 0.453
More squiggly than: 6 percent of U.S. districts
34. John Carter (Round Rock) - Texas's 31st congressional district
Compactness score: 0.453
More squiggly than: 6 percent of U.S. districts
33. Sam Johnson (Plano) - Texas's 3rd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.369
More squiggly than: 15.6 percent of U.S. districts
33. Sam Johnson (Plano) - Texas's 3rd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.369
More squiggly than: 15.6 percent of U.S. districts
32. Jodey Arrington (Lubbock) - Texas's 19th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.276
More squiggly than: 32.4 percent of U.S. districts
32. Jodey Arrington (Lubbock) - Texas's 19th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.276
More squiggly than: 32.4 percent of U.S. districts
31. Mac Thornberry (Clarendon) - Texas's 13th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.257
More squiggly than: 39.5 percent of U.S. districts
31. Mac Thornberry (Clarendon) - Texas's 13th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.257
More squiggly than: 39.5 percent of U.S. districts
30. Kevin Brady (The Woodlands) - Texas's 8th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.230
More squiggly than: 45.1 percent of U.S. districts
30. Kevin Brady (The Woodlands) - Texas's 8th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.230
More squiggly than: 45.1 percent of U.S. districts
29. Kay Granger (Fort Worth) - Texas's 12th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.226
More squiggly than: 46.7 percent of U.S. districts
29. Kay Granger (Fort Worth) - Texas's 12th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.226
More squiggly than: 46.7 percent of U.S. districts
28. Joe Barton (Arlington) - Texas's 6th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.211
More squiggly than: 54.5 percent of U.S. districts
28. Joe Barton (Arlington) - Texas's 6th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.211
More squiggly than: 54.5 percent of U.S. districts
27. Kenny Marchant (Coppell) - Texas's 24th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.210
More squiggly than: 54.9 percent of U.S. districts
27. Kenny Marchant (Coppell) - Texas's 24th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.210
More squiggly than: 54.9 percent of U.S. districts
26. Brian Babin (Woodville) - Texas's 36th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.208
More squiggly than: 55.4 percent of U.S. districts
26. Brian Babin (Woodville) - Texas's 36th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.208
More squiggly than: 55.4 percent of U.S. districts
25. Will Hurd (Helotes) - Texas's 23rd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.205
More squiggly than: 57 percent of U.S. districts
25. Will Hurd (Helotes) - Texas's 23rd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.205
More squiggly than: 57 percent of U.S. districts
Compactness score: 0.203
More squiggly than: 57.9 percent of U.S. districts
Compactness score: 0.203
More squiggly than: 57.9 percent of U.S. districts
23. Mike Conaway (Midland) - Texas's 11th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.195
More squiggly than: 60.9 percent of U.S. districts
23. Mike Conaway (Midland) - Texas's 11th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.195
More squiggly than: 60.9 percent of U.S. districts
22. Blake Farenthold (Corpus Christi) - Texas's 27th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.189
More squiggly than: 62.1 percent of U.S. districts
22. Blake Farenthold (Corpus Christi) - Texas's 27th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.189
More squiggly than: 62.1 percent of U.S. districts
21. Bill Flores (Bryan) - Texas's 17th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.188
More squiggly than: 62.3 percent of U.S. districts
21. Bill Flores (Bryan) - Texas's 17th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.188
More squiggly than: 62.3 percent of U.S. districts
20. Lamar Smith (San Antonio) - Texas's 21st congressional district
Compactness score: 0.187
More squiggly than: 63.4 percent of U.S. districts
20. Lamar Smith (San Antonio) - Texas's 21st congressional district
Compactness score: 0.187
More squiggly than: 63.4 percent of U.S. districts
19. Joaquin Castro (San Antonio) - Texas's 20th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.182
More squiggly than: 65.5 percent of U.S. districts
19. Joaquin Castro (San Antonio) - Texas's 20th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.182
More squiggly than: 65.5 percent of U.S. districts
18. John Ratcliffe (Heath) - Texas's 4th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.175
More squiggly than: 67.6 percent of U.S. districts
18. John Ratcliffe (Heath) - Texas's 4th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.175
More squiggly than: 67.6 percent of U.S. districts
17. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Dallas) - Texas's 30th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.175
More squiggly than: 68 percent of U.S. districts
17. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Dallas) - Texas's 30th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.175
More squiggly than: 68 percent of U.S. districts
16. Roger Williams (Weatherford) - Texas's 25th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.159
More squiggly than: 72.4 percent of U.S. districts
16. Roger Williams (Weatherford) - Texas's 25th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.159
More squiggly than: 72.4 percent of U.S. districts
15. Randy Weber (Alvin) - Texas's 14th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.154
More squiggly than: 74.9 percent of U.S. districts
15. Randy Weber (Alvin) - Texas's 14th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.154
More squiggly than: 74.9 percent of U.S. districts
14. Al Green (Houston) - Texas's 9th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.152
More squiggly than: 76.1 percent of U.S. districts
14. Al Green (Houston) - Texas's 9th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.152
More squiggly than: 76.1 percent of U.S. districts
13. Michael McCaul (West Lake Hills) - Texas's 10th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.150
More squiggly than: 76.3 percent of U.S. districts
13. Michael McCaul (West Lake Hills) - Texas's 10th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.150
More squiggly than: 76.3 percent of U.S. districts
12. Pete Olson (Sugar Land) - Texas's 22nd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.143
More squiggly than: 77.7 percent of U.S. districts
12. Pete Olson (Sugar Land) - Texas's 22nd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.143
More squiggly than: 77.7 percent of U.S. districts
11. Henry Cuellar (Laredo) - Texas's 28th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.138
More squiggly than: 79.3 percent of U.S. districts
11. Henry Cuellar (Laredo) - Texas's 28th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.138
More squiggly than: 79.3 percent of U.S. districts
10. John Culberson (Houston) - Texas's 7th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.134
More squiggly than: 80.9 percent of U.S. districts
10. John Culberson (Houston) - Texas's 7th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.134
More squiggly than: 80.9 percent of U.S. districts
9. Jeb Hensarling (Dallas) - Texas's 5th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.130
More squiggly than: 82.1 percent of U.S. districts
9. Jeb Hensarling (Dallas) - Texas's 5th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.130
More squiggly than: 82.1 percent of U.S. districts
8. Vicente González (McAllen) - Texas's 15th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.126
More squiggly than: 83.2 percent of U.S. districts
8. Vicente González (McAllen) - Texas's 15th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.126
More squiggly than: 83.2 percent of U.S. districts
7. Filemon Vela Jr. (Brownsville) - Texas's 34th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.125
More squiggly than: 84.1 percent of U.S. districts
7. Filemon Vela Jr. (Brownsville) - Texas's 34th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.125
More squiggly than: 84.1 percent of U.S. districts
6. John Carter (Round Rock) - Texas's 32nd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.124
More squiggly than: 84.4 percent of U.S. districts
6. John Carter (Round Rock) - Texas's 32nd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.124
More squiggly than: 84.4 percent of U.S. districts
5. Gene Green (Houston) - Texas's 29th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.087
More squiggly than: 92.6 percent of U.S. districts
5. Gene Green (Houston) - Texas's 29th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.087
More squiggly than: 92.6 percent of U.S. districts
4. Sheila Jackson (Houston) - Texas's 18th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.080
More squiggly than: 93.8 percent of U.S. districts
4. Sheila Jackson (Houston) - Texas's 18th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.080
More squiggly than: 93.8 percent of U.S. districts
3. Ted Poe (Humble) - Texas's 2nd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.074
More squiggly than: 95.2 percent of U.S. districts
3. Ted Poe (Humble) - Texas's 2nd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.074
More squiggly than: 95.2 percent of U.S. districts
2. Lloyd Doggett (Austin) - Texas's 35th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.054
More squiggly than: 97.9 percent of U.S. districts
2. Lloyd Doggett (Austin) - Texas's 35th congressional district
Compactness score: 0.054
More squiggly than: 97.9 percent of U.S. districts
1. Marc Veasey (Fort Worth) - Texas's 33rd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.044
More squiggly than: 98.6 percent of U.S. districts
1. Marc Veasey (Fort Worth) - Texas's 33rd congressional district
Compactness score: 0.044
More squiggly than: 98.6 percent of U.S. districts
AUSTIN — The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether Texas' congressional and House maps discriminate against people of color, reviewing a lower-court ruling that took issue with a pair of congressional districts and several state House districts.
The maps have muddled through the court system for three election cycles amid challenges that several of the districts were drawn in a way that diluted voting power for Latino and African American voters. The state argues the districts -- which are being used again in this year's legislative and congressional elections -- are sound.
Republicans had appealed two lower court rulings, including the decision of a three-judge panel in San Antonio which invalidated the boundaries on a pair of congressional districts and nine House districts.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could change how political elections are held. The question is whether a long-used practice of redrawing districts is constitutional. So how does gerrymandering work? And why might the justices pu
Media: Fox5The high court in September blocked the lower court rulings, granting the state's request not to require new political maps for the 2018 election, pleasing Republicans who have defended the maps.
The districts in question are Congressional Districts 27 and 35 and nine of Texas House seats in Dallas, Nueces, Bell and Tarrant counties. Republican Blake Farenthold currently holds the District 27 seat but it vacating it after this term. Democrat Lloyd Doggett now represents District 35.
Challenges to the maps drawn by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature contend lawmakers intentionally weakened minority voting power by cramming minorities into a single district or by splitting them up across too many.
"They didn't just cheat to get an edge in a silly game, they silenced the voices minorities at the ballot box," said Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa, who said the maps are an example of Republicans "stacking the deck" against people of color.
Texas' has been using temporary court-ordered maps that were drawn for the 2012 elections and approved by the Legislature in 2013. Those same maps will be used in the March 6 primary election.
"Texans deserve for their votes to count," said Rep. Rafael Anchia, chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. "We are hopeful that the court will provide justice to voters and agree that discrimination will not be tolerated in our elections."
The maps are redrawn every 10 years following the U.S. Census, which tallies, among other things, population grown and decline.
Andrea Zelinski covers politics and the courts for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com.
