Political Updates
Chapter Six: The Legislature

Districting, pg. 228

During the 77th Legislature, neither a House nor a Senate redistricting bill was passed. Thus, new districts were drawn by the Legislative Redistricting Board composed of 1 Democrat (Speaker Laney) and 4 Republicans (acting Lieutenant Governor Ratliff, Attorney General Cornyn, Comptroller Rylander, and Land Commissioner Dewhurst). Opposed by Laney and Ratliff, the Senate plan created 20 safe GOP districts and 2 swing districts, and the House plan gave the GOP from 82 to 88 safe districts. Court challenges were filed immediately with state and federal judges. Because the legislature failed to pass bills redistricting the state's 32 congressional districts and 15 State Board of Education districts in its 77th Regular Session, and Governor Perry refused to call a special session, there was no alternative to court action for redistricting these two bodies.