Additional reporting by Shawn Arrajj
Results of the 2010 census indicating the state's population had earned Texas four more congressional seats sparked chaos in the already tricky redistricting process.
Federal lawsuits have since halted the enactment of new maps drawn by the Republican-dominated state Legislature, delaying the primaries from March 6 to April 3 and threatening further delays.
"It's [redistricting] been chaotic since the 1960s, but this is first time the [U.S.] Supreme Court has been involved and actually heard the case in the election cycle," said Steve Bickerstaff, adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law.
Population changes thoughout the state also led to district shifts in the Texas House of Representatives. A new seat was added to represent the growing population in Montgomery and Waller counties, but disputes over district lines have raised questions regarding this seat as well.
"The reality of the situation is, if you don't have maps, you can't do anything," said Cecil Bell, Jr., who is campaigning for the new seat as a Republican. "This totally changes our political climate."
Bell, who favors letting the State Legislature draw the maps, said he has been running his campaign as if both potential districts were valid.
"I can't sit and wait, and I don't want to guess and end up guessing wrong," Bell said. "At the end of the day, we all need to know our legislators, both in our county and around us."
Texas is among the states that must get preclearance on redistricting maps by the U.S. Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, according to the Texas Legislative Council. However, the state did not submit the maps to the DOJ for preclearance and, instead, petitioned a U.S. District Court for a declaratory judgment validating the redistricting plans.
The petition was denied. A U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. held a trial Jan. 17–31. The court issued a statement saying a decision was not likely in February.
Meanwhile, separate lawsuits were filed in state and federal courts by opponents of the redistricting maps who claim they violate the U.S. Constitution by diluting minority voting power.
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus filed two suits, which were consolidated with several others and heard in September by a U.S. District Court in San Antonio. The three-judge panel redrew the state's maps and submitted them to the Supreme Court as proposed interim plans for the 2012 primaries and elections.
On Jan. 20, after hearing arguments on interim maps, the Supreme Court rejected the San Antonio court's maps citing the insertion of the judges' own preferences. The court instructed them to redraw the maps.
At press time, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott released a statement announcing that a compromise had been reached between the State of Texas and the Latino Redistricting Task Force over interim maps. However, the maps were since rejected by the San Antonio Court due several groups that didn't agree to the compromise. If an agreement can be reached soon, officials say an April 17 primary date is still possible.
Texas redistricting timeline
2010
- December: U.S. Census figures result in four new Texas congressional seats, for a total of 36
2011
- May–July: Legislature passes Texas house, senate and congressional redistricting plans; Gov. Rick Perry signs plan into law
- Dec. 16: San Antonio court orders revised election schedule, including changing the primary election date from March 6 to April 3, 2012.
2012
- Jan. 20: U.S. Supreme Court throws out San Antonio maps
- Jan. 27: San Antonio Court vacates candidate filing deadline
- Feb. 3: Attorney General Greg Abbott announces a compromise over interim maps
- April 17: Potential primary date
- June 7-9: State party conventions
- Nov. 6: General election
