Comments on: Texas Redistricting (repost)

By: Brian L Cartwright

Brian L Cartwright — Fri, 20 Aug 2004 06:40:44 +0000

The skewing is accomplished by concentrating the opponent into a few districts where they can have a high percentage of the vote, but then be losers in the majority of the districts.

8 of the 32 seats were unopposed, 5 Republican, 3 Democrat. In the other 24 districts, Republicans got 55% of the vote, but only 10 of 24 seats (42%). 9 of the 12 highest margin of victories in challenged races were Republican majorities.

Any vote over the majority is a surplus vote, because the seat is already won. In all 32 seats, 50% of the Republican vote were surplus votes, while 40% of the Democrat votes were surplus. In the 24 challenged races, 40% of the Republican vote was surplus, compared to only 25% of the Democrat votes.

Unwittingly, the Democrats are concentrating themselves nationally, to their detriment in the Presidential election. With som many Democrat votes concentrated in the DC-Boston corridor, Detroit, Chicago, and the Pacific coast, they are helping create a situation where they can win the national popular vote, but lose the Electoral College vote. One of the reaons behind the concept of the Electoral College is to force Presidential candidates to be broad-based and not regional (you need to carry more than just New York and California to win).

By: Steve Covin

Steve Covin — Tue, 30 Dec 2003 17:38:08 +0000

The Democrats have always redrawn the map since the 60’s. I’m in my 50’s and I go back only that far. This is the first time Democrats didn’t get to draw the map.
Things always change. I can’t beat my brother at pool anymore either, but I wouldn’t run off to another state to avoid a match.
Of course this map is more serious than a pool match. But, my guess is that you cannot assume this map will create a huge gap in reps. If President Bush has success then the gap will be there in 2003. If there isn’t a Bush success then the gap will be much much less.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 00:54:30 +0000

Thanks for this info!!!

I knew something like this had occured but didn’t have the specific facts…now I do…thanks for this tidbit….

By: concermed citizen

concermed citizen — Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:50:07 +0000

Craddick’s proposed district will hog most of the oil, (Permian Basin,) most of the water,(Lake Ivey, Lake Brownwood, Lake Proctor, Lake Buchanan, Lake LBJ, the Colorado river, the two Llano rivers, and the San Saba river,), most of the pecans, (San Saba County), most of the cattle,( San Saba auction barn, and Mason auction barns), and to top all of the above off, it will include Luckenback and Lowake!

By: Joey

Joey — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 01:01:19 +0000

Hi,
I’m a tenth grade IB student. I was having a a bit of trouble researching my government project on Texas. I just wanted to say thank you for this information because this helped me a whole lot!

Thanks a bunch!