Quote:
Originally posted by mml
Unfortuately, there is no good answer here. From what I understand the existing map is biased toward the Dems and the new map is simply an insult to fair politics.
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I question the notion that the existing map is biased towards the Dems. It is true that Texas currently has more Democratic Representatives that Republican ones (barely) but if we look at the voter breakdown by district, it doesn't look like that's the fault of the map.
Consider Districts 1, 2, 4, 11, and 17. In each district, Perry, Corwyn, and other state Republicans got
better results that they did statewide. In each district there are more registered Republicans than Democrats. By all accounts, these are republican districts. And yet in each district, a Democratic Representative won. Why? Because the Democrat is an incumbant who has worked hard for his constituants, and they know and trust him.
It doesn't look like that map is unfair. It looks like Republicans are crossing party lines to vote for Democratic incumbants. That's what Delay wants to stop. By breaking up those districts, he hopes to encourage people to vote more along party lines. Why this is good for Texas is beyond me.