Tag Archives: redistricting

Here’s a Census data preview

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Guess what? The same trends we saw ten years ago are still trending. Texas’ Hispanic population has grown by more than 2 million since 2010, according to new population estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, and the state’s … Continue reading →

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What should Joe Biden do in Texas?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

“Win” would be my preferred answer, but it’s more complicated than that. No matter how frequently it happens, it’s always a bit startling. Ever since February 2019, polls have been coming out indicating that former Vice President Joe Biden is … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rep. Marc Veasey

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

When I came up with the idea to do a series of interviews about redistricting, Rep. Marc Veasey was among the first people I wanted to talk to. He was a State Rep in 2011 when the original maps were … Continue reading →

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Interview with Michael Li

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, among the many monumental tasks that the Legislature has before it in 2021 is redistricting. That will almost certainly be done in a summer or even autumn special session, since Census data will be delayed by the … Continue reading →

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Biden campaign says it will compete in Texas

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

That is what we want to hear. Former vice president Joe Biden is planning to compete against President Trump in traditionally Republican states such as Arizona, Texas and Georgia as his campaign bulks up in size and turns to a … Continue reading →

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More on the potential delay of redistricting

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some further details from the Statesman. On Monday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced that, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, all Census Bureau field operations would be canceled until June 1, and the agency would not be able to … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus and redistricting

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Big surprise. A delay in census counting because of the coronavirus pandemic could push Texas redistricting into legislative overtime next summer. Trump administration officials on Monday proposed delaying reapportionment counts and the distribution of redistricting data by four months, which … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus is taking its toll on the Census

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The timing of this pandemic really sucks. The nonprofit Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston had more than 15 tabling events planned over the next several weeks where volunteers were going to post up at festivals, fairs and other community gatherings … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus and the Census

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, man, does this have the potential to be devastating. In some corners of the state, the meticulous planning spanned more than two years. Detailed maps of Texas communities were pored over. A ground game to knock on doors was … Continue reading →

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Please fill out the Census

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, come on. If you’re a reader of this blog, you know damn well it’s your civic duty. Texas loses more than $2,300 per year for every person who doesn’t get counted in the U.S. Census, according to a … Continue reading →

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DNC to target Texas

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Game on. The Democratic National Committee [added] Texas to its list of 2020 targets just days before Super Tuesday, vowing to invest heavily in the state to help Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in the latest sign that … Continue reading →

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Can someone beat Lucio?

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe this is the year. A lot of Democrats running for the Texas Legislature this cycle are hoping that the opportunity to influence the next redistricting process helps propel them to office. One Democrat, meanwhile, is hoping it keeps him … Continue reading →

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Trib overview of the CD10 primary

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. When Mike Siegel made a long-shot bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, two years ago, few were watching — until he surprised political observers and came within 5 points of … Continue reading →

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A look at the other SBOE races of interest

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

There are three races in the State Board of Education that Democrats have a shot to flip based on recent election results. We are pretty familiar with SBOE6, so let’s take a look at districts 5 and 10. The Statesman … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick makes the most predictable announcement ever

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Really, who didn’t see this coming? Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Thursday he may further lower the threshold required to bring bills to the Senate floor if Republicans lose one or two seats in November. Patrick made the comment at … Continue reading →

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Looking ahead in CD07

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This story is primarily about the Republican primary in CD07. I don’t care about that race or those candidates, but there’s some good stuff at the end that I wanted to comment on. Since she’s taken office, some Houston Republicans … Continue reading →

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We’re not going to get an independent redistricting commission

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nice to think about, but the set of circumstances that might lead to it are exceedingly narrow. Most of the seven states that have independent commissions adopted them by a citizens’ initiative. Since Texas doesn’t have that option, the only … Continue reading →

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DMN profile of Chris Bell

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Dallas Morning News did a series of profiles of Democratic Senate candidates during the Christmas break. They’re worth reading, especially since polls show many of us don’t know these candidates all that well. I’m going to post about each … Continue reading →

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Texas is on track to pick up three more Congressional districts

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Put an asterisk next to this, as the actual Census will need to bear that out. The U.S. population continues to shift south and west, according to new Census Bureau data that offers the clearest picture yet of how the … Continue reading →

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The female face of City Council

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Houston City Council is majority female for the first time in over a decade. Starting next year, a record nine women will serve on Houston City Council amid a shift toward a younger and more progressive council for Mayor Sylvester … Continue reading →

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Our first Congressional race ratings

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From Politico, here’s the early view of the state of Texas’ Congressional races in 2020. Lean Dem CD23 (Open, R) CD32 (Allred, D) Tossup CD07 (Fletcher, D) CD22 (Open, R) CD24 (Open, R) Lean GOP CD02 (Crenshaw, R) CD10 (McCaul, … Continue reading →

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Warren’s interest in boosting Texas Dems

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I heartily approve of this. As Elizabeth Warren climbs the polls — threatening Joe Biden’s lead in the Democratic primary — her campaign is turning its attention to Texas, a state she called home for a decade and a place … Continue reading →

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How other states are handling the Census

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Better than we’re handling it. So cities and states with big immigrant populations — like California and New York City — are supplementing the Census Bureau’s efforts like never before, allocating money to outreach groups that can go to communities … Continue reading →

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Quorum question

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew? A quirk in Texas law could allow the two Republicans on Harris County Commissioners Court, despite being in the minority, to prevent the three Democrats from enacting a proposed property tax increase. Typically, three court members constitute a quorum, … Continue reading →

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Life after the Voting Rights Act

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A good long read from the Trib about where we are with redistricting and what may lie ahead. Since Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, Texas has been barred by law from discriminating against voters of color. Yet … Continue reading →

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Interview with Nelvin Adriatico

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

One more time in District J, where the changing of the guard has me a bit nostalgic for the time when the new 11-district map was first presented for our perusal. Nelvin Adriatico is the president and founder of brokerage … Continue reading →

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Interview with Sandra Rodriguez

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We move now to District J, one of the two new Council districts drawn in 2011, part of the settlement agreement to add two districts when the city’s population hit 2.1 million. Mike Laster has been the only Council member … Continue reading →

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Revisiting City Council redistricting

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This would be interesting. At Wednesday’s council meeting, District E Councilmember Dave Martin said the city should consider redrawing city council district boundaries, particularly in his own district. District E includes two far-flung suburbs, Kingwood and Clear Lake. Martin said … Continue reading →

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Marchant joins the exodus

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The line at the door keeps growing. U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant will not seek reelection in 2020, two sources confirmed to The Texas Tribune late Sunday. He is the fourth member of the Texas delegation to announce his retirement in … Continue reading →

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Rep. Mike Conaway to retire

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We will have at least three new members of Congress from Texas in 2021. Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas will not seek reelection in 2020, according to multiple GOP sources, becoming the fifth Republican to announce their retirement over the … Continue reading →

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No bail in

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise, I’m afraid. Texas won’t have to seek federal approval when state lawmakers draw new election maps in two years, a three-judge panel in San Antonio decided Wednesday. The judges, however, cautioned Texas that its next process will “undoubtedly” … Continue reading →

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It’s up to cities to make the Census work

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Lege shirked its duty, so this is what’s left. Across the country, states are spending millions on making sure they get a better headcount of their residents. For example, California officials announced they are investing as much as $154 … Continue reading →

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The next Census threat

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From TPM: Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has directed the Census Bureau to prepare to offer states the data they’d need to do a redistricting overhaul that would boost “Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites,” in the words of a deceased GOP consultant. That … Continue reading →

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Does the partisan redistricting ruling change anything in Texas?

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe, but if so it will be indirect. Robert Henneke, general counsel for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, said the ruling was a clear sign that the high court wanted to discourage federal judges from micromanaging … Continue reading →

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