Texas Political Update 9/21/2021

The Texas Legislature began its third “special” session of 2021 on Monday, this time to address the specific issue of Redistricting. Lawmakers have been tasked with redrawing district maps for the State Board of Education, the state House and Senate as well as the state’s congressional seats. They will craft those maps using the latest census data, which showed that people of color fueled 95% of the state’s population growth over the past decade. The proposals will have to be approved by both chambers and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). On Saturday, the Senate released the first draft of its own redistricted member map, which also shores up Republican seats.

The Texas Senate on Monday released its first draft of a new map for the State Board of Education, which attempts to reinforce the GOP majority within the 15-member, Republican-dominated entity that determines what millions of public school students in the state are taught in classrooms. Nine Republicans and six Democrats currently make up the State Board of Education. During the 2020 general election, seven of those 15 districts went to President Joe Biden — though, under the Senate’s proposed map, only five would favor Biden and one would be considered a toss-up seat. The State Board of Education, which is responsible for adopting textbooks and changing curriculum standards, has made national headlines in recent years over board meeting debates over controversial evolution standards and sex education policies, among other things.

The map is likely to change as it makes its way through the legislative process The special session, which can last up to 30 days, is expected to focus largely on redrawing the state’s political maps, along with a host of other issues set by Abbott. Since the GOP holds majorities in both chambers, the redistricting process will be in the hands of Republicans, who will work to best position their party for the next decade.