Free Republic

Rep. Charlie Gonzalez said Friday he will not seek re-election, a decision that will end the congressional tenure of a Democratic family whose name has been synonymous with the city of San Antonio for more than half a century. Gonzalez, who sued the state over a redistricting plan that carved downtown out of his central San Antonio congressional district, said it was not reapportionment, but the need to provide financial stability for his family that is forcing him to seek a new career. “I still find the job hugely rewarding, but the demands pull me somewhere else,” said Gonzalez, who...

It was expected, but people who don't follow this stuff probably hadn't realized it yet: The new Census data that just came out today is a huge win for the GOP. The National Journal describes it as an "embarrassment of riches". First of all, there was a big shift in Congressional states from "blue" to "red" states. Texas is the huge winner, picking up 4 seats. NY and Pennsylvania both lost seats. California failed to gain any seats for the first time. Other red states picking up seats, according to Washington Post's Aaron Blake: FL +2, AZ, GA, SC, UT,...

Democrats blast redistricting in national radio address Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — Democrats used their national radio address Saturday to accuse congressional Republicans of trying to steal votes in Texas and called on President Bush to put a halt to congressional redistricting efforts in his home state. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio accused the GOP of using recount, recall and redistricting efforts in Texas and nationwide in a "new playbook for a narrow Republican majority attempting to use government to expand partisan power." She called the effort to redraw congressional voting districts an attack on minority...

For over one hundred and thirty years, Republicans were a minority in the Texas legislature. Now, Republicans hold all statewide offices and both U.S. Senate seats. Texas votes about sixty percent Republican. However, only fifteen of the thirty-two U.S. House members are Republican. The prospect of correcting this inequity is what sent the fifty-one Texas House members abandoning their Constitutional duties and escaping out of state to Oklahoma for a few days. By doing so, they prevented a vote on the redistricting bill and effectively killed it. What they did was disenfranchise Texas voters. If Texas votes sixty-percent Republican, that...