http://www.statesman.com/news/federal-court-voids-travis-county-congressional-district-other/vFiIOrtUdQiQdq3G4GGs0O/
Ruling that the Legislature created congressional maps with the intent to discriminate against minority voters, a federal court Tuesday ordered two districts to be redrawn, including one based in Travis County and another that includes part of Bastrop County.
In its unanimous ruling, the three-judge panel gave Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton three days to advise the court on “whether the Legislature intends to take up redistricting in an effort to cure these violations and, if so, when the matter will be considered.”
If the Legislature does not act, the San Antonio-based court will hold a hearing starting Sept. 5 to begin drawing new maps.
The ruling has the potential for major changes in Travis County, a Democratic stronghold that was broken into five congressional districts — four represented by Republicans and one by U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.
The court ruled that Doggett’s seat, District 35, will have to be redrawn because Republicans improperly used race as a tool for partisan goals — minimizing the number of Democratic districts while attempting to unseat Doggett by boosting the Hispanic population and extending the new district to San Antonio, making it more likely that voters would choose a Latino candidate.
Efforts to remove Doggett, however, were unsuccessful.
The judges also voided District 27, held by U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi - which includes the Coastal Bend along the Gulf of Mexico and stretches north to include southern Bastrop County. Previously, the district extended south to Brownsville and was heavily Hispanic.
Although the judges had previously found problems with District 23 — held by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes — Tuesday’s ruling said that district did not have to be redrawn.
The court also rejected arguments that districts around Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth had to redrawn to increase minority voting strength in some areas.
The court, based in San Antonio, has not yet ruled on a similar challenge to districts drawn for the 150 seats in the Texas House.
This is a developing story.