The latest demographics news from The Texas Tribune.
The new political maps drawn by Texas Republicans have run into some criticism from academics studying gerrymandering. That puts the Texans in the same boat with Illinois Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b9a54826a19db63c98921ee15a02b5d/SB7%20Beto%20file%2005-08%20EL%20TT%2002.jpg)
House Bill 25 will require student athletes who compete in interscholastic competition to play on sports teams that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate at or near their time of birth. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aa37e36238f451c973d3d020cdbbac5e/Equality%20Texas%20Lights%20In%20Darkness%20MGO%20TT%2002.jpg)
Texas lawmakers drew new maps for the state House and Senate, congressional delegation and State Board of Education. Here’s what Texans should know about the 2021 redistricting outcomes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f7b4af74a5927b63bdc379e2f08ff090/Redistricting%20maps%20MGO%20TT%2001.jpg)
This year’s elections will take place using newly redrawn political maps for the state’s congressional, House, Senate and Board of Education districts. Search your address to see how the new districts will affect your community. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/07c0a48c33ba4d70c3c25876e95beb44/TT-redistricting-lead-v1.png)
The controversial issues you’ve heard Texas lawmakers debate for most of the year aren’t going away; many of them will be argued all over again during the 2022 elections. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f6f365ee20e88ea0c5a6e47ef907e4dc/House%20Floor%20Oct%2012%20MGO%20TT%2004.jpg)
With partisan fervor, Republicans drew new maps for Congress and the Legislature that dilute the power of voters of color. Now the lawsuits begin, as groups that feel marginalized battle for representation in the halls of power. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3fc9c49786b2f595d12dbdd96c1d07f6/House%20Sine%20Die%20EL%20TT%2008.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office says there’s no plan for a fourth special session at this time. If this was the final special session of the year, what did we learn from it? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a41432313d1e96355f5ea3a9c53adad6/Texas%20Capitol%20Oct%206%20MGO%20TT%2008.jpg)
After a few last-minute alterations, the state's new congressional districts are drawn and await the scrutiny of federal courts. Already, one lawsuit has been filed claiming the new maps intentionally discriminate against Latino voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3fe311e26f376c23afa284594cc65752/House%20Floor%20Oct%2012%20MGO%20TT%2008.jpg)
Before they’re even signed into law, the state’s new maps for congressional and statehouse districts have been challenged in federal court by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d35db7b6daa76f8c7aa4080b20a814a9/Texas%20House%20of%20Representatives%20BD%20TT.jpg)
“Turn Texas Blue” was the Democratic rally cry in the 2020 elections. It didn’t happen, and with the maps the Texas Legislature is drawing, it’s not in the cards for 2022, either. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/698d6ab9656b623e4cbc5cccc6edf206/House%20Floor%20Oct%2012%20MGO%20TT%2007.jpg)
Though people of color drove nearly all of Texas’ population gains in the last decade, the proposed map gives white voters control of both of the two new congressional districts the state earned. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/641aef432fb0a6c8095907e9e3e6fb68/US%20Capitol%20File%20EL%20TT%2006.jpg)
The redistricting plans for the House, Senate and State Board of Education were approved Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/30d4b097ff76fab23a48e17fb52cf643/Senate%20Floor%20Jan%2013%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
The GOP is losing its hold on suburbs of Dallas and Fort Worth as they grow more diverse. Two new districts show how far the party is reaching to entrench rural, white electoral power. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ea11e454d35aff97551b04745afac028/2nd%20Redo%20Redistricting%20maps%20MGO%20TT%2005.jpg)
Under House Bill 25, K-12 student athletes would be prohibited from competing on school sports teams aligned with their gender identity. The bill will now head to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1612d8d93a3ec409dd12e231cece246c/Baseball%20iStock%20TT.jpg)
Democratic state senators want the webpage reinstated. The resources were removed after Don Huffines, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, criticized their inclusion on a state website. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a665eceb4323d449902be344b06cb4c/LGBTQ%20Capitol%20File%20AP%20TT%2004.jpg)
A House committee approved the bill despite emotional testimony from parents of transgender Texas children. This is the fourth legislative session this year in which lawmakers targeted LGBTQ kids. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e7a9f1e02bc7bec3a796d68469f200bc/Track%20Meet%20Sports%20High%20School%20IS%20TT.jpg)
The draft, which will need a stamp of approval from the full chamber before it can head to the Senate for consideration, is likely to continue to change before the Legislature sends it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for a signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c467233dca30f45f9595d08ea3a58564/House%20Floor%2005-13%20JV%20TT%2013)
Republican lawmakers in Texas are trying to make the most of their majority, drawing new political maps to preserve their political dynasty. The maps they’ve proposed would do that, but don’t represent the state’s population. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/64ab417757535c60e6d2d01b6c11aa41/Lege%202021%20Opening%20Day%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
Historians long thought the Karankawa people had disappeared. But now a group of descendants is fighting to protect a coastal area — where thousands of Karankawa artifacts were found — from an encroaching oil export facility. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d13b1524a73a19815ac5267308a8dc5/Indigenous%20People%20of%20the%20Coastal%20Bend%20Protest%20CS%20TT%2008.jpg)
With proposed maps out, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, says he might switch to a neighboring district where U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, is retiring. The initial maps are also sure to impact decisions in regional legislative races. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/00256cb2664bb7572cbe72145be32f8b/RGV%20Post%20Election%20JG%20TT%2025.jpg)