Texas Republicans Unveil New Voting Map

Texas House Republicans unveiled their proposed map of new Congressional districts this week. The map, intended to reflect the voting preferences of the new Texas population, creates a new district that encompasses parts of Dallas, Austin, and Houston that traditionally vote Democratic connected by voters who reside on Interstate Highways 35 and 10, and another district containing Interstate Highway and democratic precincts in El Paso, San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

"We came up with a map that we think is fair and will allow the Democrats to keep a couple of people in the US House until we redistrict them away in 2005," said Texas House speaker Tom Craddick.

"We also put a couple of districts on the border for the Mexicans who would vote Democratic if they were legal," he added.

When asked about the possibility that this new redistricting plan could give the Democrats as many as four representatives in the 2004 elections, Craddick replied, "People have to think this is a Democracy."

Newly released map shows proposed voting districts in Texas under new legislative rules. The red areas show the new districts that would be expected to vote for Democratic candidates.