Houston residents and lawmakers are discussing a redistricting proposal that could change Texas' congressional districts. A public hearing was held by the Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting at the University of Houston. People shared different views about the proposal. Shari Newton questioned how well coalition districts have worked. Joshua Poindexter said the meeting was happening because the Voting Rights Act had been weakened. Lydia Jenkins said, "They’ve taken away everything — from special education to veteran health," according to Click2Houston.
A hearing at the University of Houston's Student Center drew political figures, including Beto O'Rourke, and public protests. Outside, McKenna Tanner said, "This is racism and it's trying to silence communities of color." Inside, lawmakers discussed the redistricting process. Rep. Jon Rosenthal raised concerns, while Rep. Senfronia Thompson rejected claims that race was a factor. Committee Chair Rep. Cody Vasut said a new map has not yet been created. Rep. Katrina Pierson said the goal is to draw "strong, legally-sound districts that reflect our stat's enduring commitment to conservative policy," as reported by KHOU.
More than 700 people spoke at the hearing. The discussions come ahead of a special election for the 18th Congressional District, which has been vacant since the death of Sylvester Turner. It is still unclear how the redistricting process will affect future representation.
