Court-drawn congressional map released for 2012 [Updated]

A three-judge panel in San Antonio has released a new map of Texas' congressional districts to be used for the 2012 elections.

In North Texas, the map includes District 33, a new congressional district drawn with the intent of connecting minority communities in Tarrant and Dallas Counties. The district will be 66 percent Hispanic and 17 percent African-American.

Here's a look at how North Texas will look under the map (click on the image for a closer look): 

 

 

Along with North Texas, Travis County was an area of contention in the negotiations. Under the court-drawn map, Travis County will be split five ways.

To take a look at the full map, click here.

This is the second time the court has drawn its own congressional map. The one it put out last year was challenged by the Texas Attorney General and the Supreme Court blocked the map from being implemented.

The case ended up back in the San Antonio court where judges urged all sides to come up with compromises. While a compromise was recently reached in the Senate map, talks apparently broke down regarding the congresisonal and state House maps.

Election officials have said they need maps finalized by Saturday to ensure that the primary can be held on May 29. 

UPDATE: The court also released its interim map for the Texas House districts today. More details and a look at how Tarrant County fared here.

The court also finalized a deal reached earlier this month between state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and the Texas Attorney General's office regarding the state senate map. The deal leaves the lines of Davis' senate district untouched for the next election.   

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[Bob]

Hmmm, the Line Item Veto granted to Clinton was struck down by the courts because the president cannot legislate. SO what gives the judicial branch the right to legislate? With the exception of the age of those allowed to vote, voting, districts, registration has always been a state's right. At what point in time will the federal government stay out of state's business which their constitution covers. Don't use the Voting Rights Act or Civil Rights violations. The voting rights act was to ensure voters have the right to vote and since illegal aliens can't vote, they have no say so in who represents them, just that they are represented. It's time that US citizens and only the citizens are included in these equations and suits. If these subjected people want to have a say so in our government let them become citizens, pandering to them doesn't give them any incentive to become legal.

[ACitizen]

The courts have NO BUSINESS sticking their noses in this subject. We elected our State Senators and State Representatives back in 2010 to perform this redistricting. They did it. Period.

All voting districts should be bounded by relatively permanent, physical, easily recognized landmarks such as river beds, freeways, railroad tracks, or major thoroughfares. And they should be as simple in shape as possible (unlike district 33 above). Ethnicity or race should not be considered.

[Jeff L]

Three words....what a joke!

[Dave Johnson]

All this and Wendy still gets her old district as it's always been...Good for her...

[Vern V]

Nice job of Octopussing up the Dems and removing them from Joe's district.