Texas redistricting shifts Houston's Black voters into new districts ahead of midterms
Briefing by News4U · First published
Al Jazeera reports that Texas Republicans redrew Houston's congressional map last year, moving the predominantly Black Sunnyside neighborhood and Mt Hebron Missionary Baptist Church from the ninth district into the 18th district. The change forced longtime Democratic Rep. Al Green to run against incumbent Christian Menefee in the 18th district primary, which he lost. The ninth district was redrawn to favor Republicans. Pastor Max Miller and parishioners criticized the move as weakening minority representation. Professor Michael Adams said the loss of an additional Black member of Congress may weaken Black voters' voices. Republicans say the map reflects population growth and voter trends, not race. [1]
Sources
- US midterms present a test for Republican redistricting in Texas and beyond
Al Jazeera · · Excerpt