Texas’ Democrats have returned to the state, ending their two-week-long boycott of Governor Greg Abbott’s special legislative session.
Although the Democrats are no longer breaking quorum, they feel their walkout will play a significant role in thwarting Gov. Abbott’s proposed redistricting bill.
District 27 Representative Ron Reynolds spoke with KPRC 2 about why Texas Democrats view this bill to be so unorthodox, and why they think it will adversely affect Texas voters.
“[This bill] specifically is what we’re calling a racial gerrymander,” Rep. Reynolds said. “That means that this proposed map specifically targets African American and Latino communities.”
The bill’s proposed changes will target five democratic seats in Texas’ legislature by “packing” republican voters into certain districts, and breaking apart democratic voters through redrawn county lines, according to Rep. Reynolds.
“[This bill is going to] dilute their voting strength and the ability to elect a candidate of their choice.” Reynolds said.
It isn’t just the content of this bill that is controversial. Democrats are also upset about the nature of its introduction. Districts are usually amended every 10 years to account for population shifts — but this bill was added to the special legislative session only five years after the last redistricting.
“Historically, this is a good example of a norm that used to guide politics in the United States being broken,” political scientist Dr. Mark Jones told KPRC 2. “[In the past], you engaged in redistricting only once every 10 years, not whenever you felt you could gain a partisan advantage from doing so.”
Texas Democrats are critical of Gov. Abbott’s timing in introducing this redistricting bill, as they believe there are other issues of paramount importance that need to be addressed in the state — namely, flood relief for the hill country.
“I mean, why wouldn’t Governor Abbott [send aid to the Hill Country] when there’s such a crisis where over 130 Texans, many of them with children, precious little girls, have died?” Rep. Reynolds said. “Why would you not prioritize this when you had the ability to do it?”
As the second special legislative session resumes, Texas Democrats assert that their return to the capitol does not signal surrender, but a continued fight for fair representation.