Judge: GOP Rep. Bonilla could be 'odd man out' in Texas redistricting

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-08-03-texas-redistricting_x.htm?csp=15



Updated 8/3/2006 5:24 PM ET

AUSTIN (AP) — One of four incumbents affected by a court-ordered revision of a congressional district will probably land in a much more competitive zone, a federal judge said Thursday.

Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla "seems to be the odd man out," said U.S. District Judge Patrick Higginbotham, who is presiding over the redistricting.

The comment came as a three-judge federal panel heard arguments about how to redraw Bonilla's district, which stretches from Laredo north to San Antonio and west to the edge of El Paso.


Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, right, and Solicitor General Ted Cruz arrive outside federal court Thursday in Austin. A federal panel listened to arguments from parties on possible fixes to the congressional redistricting map.


The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld most of the state's congressional map, which was drawn by Republicans in 2003, but said that splitting the heavily Hispanic city of Laredo into two districts violated the Voting Rights Act because it diluted the minority vote.

Bonilla's is the only district that must be redrawn, but neighboring districts would probably need to be tweaked to comply.

"One of these four candidates is going to be at least in a very, very competitive district," Higginbotham said. Earlier Thursday, he said, "Bonilla seems to be the odd man out."

[alfredo]

1. November could be a good month for us. We need to work

to make it a rout.

[Judi Lynn]

2. It would be good to know what effect this will have on the Democrats

mentioned also in the article:

The others affected by the remapping are congressmen from nearby districts: Austin Democrat Lloyd Doggett, San Antonio Republican Lamar Smith and Laredo Democrat Henry Cuellar.

Bonilla's popularity had been slipping among Hispanics in the district before lines were reconfigured. Under that plan, Laredo Hispanics were scooped into a neighboring district, to give Bonilla an edge over a Democratic candidate. He won re-election in 2004 and plans to be on the Nov. 7 ballot this year.

A competitive district for Bonilla gives national Democrats hope that they can gain a seat in Texas, which has increasingly elected Republicans. Democrats nationally need to gain 15 seats for a majority.
(snip/...)

Other than the reference to Doggett, and Cuellar, this sounds good.

Supposed to be an answer by Monday:

The judges said they would rule by Monday — the day Texas elections officials said a decision was needed so changes could be applied in the Nov. 7 election.

The federal panel can select one of those maps submitted by the parties in the case or draw their own voting lines to fix the district in question.
(snip)

It would be so good to see at least some of the damage done by Tom DeLay and his swarm voided.