What if the 2003 Texas redistricting had never happened?

This diary takes a look at what might have happened if the 2003 Texas redistricting had never occurred. I compared the 2000 demographics and presidential results for the map used in the 2002 elections with the 2008 demographics and presidential results under the same lines. I used Dave’s App to do this, with the Test Data setting to get the political data, but the regular voting district map (without the Test Data setting) to get the correct demographic estimates. I also looked at the shifts for the districts during this time period and elaborated a bit on what might have occurred had this map remained in place for the rest of the decade. Please vote in the survey at the end as well. Thanks and enjoy!

Statewide Map

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East Texas

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District 1 (Blue); Northeast Texas-Texarkana, Paris, Greenville, Nacogdoches, Marshall

2002 winner and winning percentage: Max Sandlin (D), 56%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 75 16 7 0 651,619
2008 population (est.) 72 15 11 1 683,417
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 -1 +4 +1 +31,798
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
64% Bush-36% Gore 69% McCain-30% Obama +5% Republican, -6% Democratic

District 2 (Green): East Texas-Lufkin, Orange, Huntsville, Liberty

2002 winner and winning percentage: Jim Turner (D), 61%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 76 14 9 0 651,619
2008 population (est.) 73 13 12 1 683,417
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 -1 +3 +1 +37,712
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
63% Bush-37% Gore 70% McCain-29% Obama +7% Republican, -8% Democratic

District 4 (Red): North and East Texas-Longview, Tyler, Sherman

2002 winner and winning percentage: Ralph Hall (D), 58%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 77 12 9 1 651,620
2008 population (est.) 72 11 14 1 773,426
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 -1 +5 0 +121,806
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
70% Bush-30% Gore 70% McCain-29% Obama 0% Republican, -1% Democratic

District 9 (Light Blue): East Texas and Harris County-Beaumont, Port Arthur, Galveston, Texas City

2002 winner and winning percentage: Nick Lampson (D), 59%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 60 21 14 3 651,619
2008 population (est.) 56 21 19 3 675,944
Change from 2000 to 2008 -4 0 +5 0 +24,325
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
55% Bush-45% Gore 56% McCain-43% Obama +1% Republican, -2% Democratic

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

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District 3 (Purple):Collin County and northern Dallas County-Richardson, Garland, Plano, McKinney

2002 winner and winning percentage: Sam Johnson (R), 74%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 70 7 14 7 651,620
2008 population (est.) 61 9 18 10 898,778
Change from 2000 to 2008 -9 +2 +4 +3 +247,158
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
72% Bush-28% Gore 60% McCain-39% Obama -12% Republican, +11% Democratic

District 5 (Yellow): Dallas County and Central/East Texas-Dallas, Mesquite, Palestine, Athens

2002 winner and winning percentage: Jeb Hensarling (R), 58%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 63 16 18 2 651,620
2008 population (est.) 56 17 23 2 677,043
Change from 2000 to 2008 -7 +1 +5 0 +25,423
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
62% Bush-38% Gore 57% McCain-42% Obama -5% Republican, +4% Democratic

District 6 (Dark Teal): Tarrant County and Dallas/Fort Worth suburbs and exurbs: Arlington, Ennis, Cleburne, Corsicana

2002 winner and winning percentage: Joe Barton (R), 70%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 72 10 14 3 651,620
2008 population (est.) 67 11 18 3 748,734
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 +1 +4 0 +97,114
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
67% Bush-33% Gore 61% McCain-38% Obama -6% Republican, +5% Democratic

District 12 (Periwinkle): Tarrant and Parker Counties-Weatherford, Fort Worth, Keller

2002 winner and winning percentage: Kay Granger (R), 92%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 71 5 20 2 651,619
2008 population (est.) 64 5 26 3 788,643
Change from 2000 to 2008 -7 0 +6 +1 +137,024
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
67% Bush-33% Gore 65% McCain-34% Obama -2% Republican, +1% Democratic

District 24 (Dark Purple): Dallas and Tarrant Counties-Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, Duncanville

2002 winner and winning percentage: Martin Frost (D), 65%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 35 22 38 3 651,619
2008 population (est.) 28 22 45 4 836,571
Change from 2000 to 2008 -7 0 +7 +1 +184,952
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
46% Bush-54% Gore 36% McCain-63% Obama -10% Republican, +9% Democratic

District 26 (Dark Gray): Denton, Tarrant, and Collin Counties-Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, McKinney

2002 winner and winning percentage: Michael Burgess (R), 75%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 78 5 11 4 651,619
2008 population (est.) 70 7 16 6 897,454
Change from 2000 to 2008 -8 +2 +5 +2 +245,835
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
73% Bush-27% Gore 63% McCain-36% Obama -10% Republican, +9% Democratic

District 30 (Salmon): Dallas County: Dallas, Irving

2002 winner and winning percentage: Eddie Bernice Johnson (D), 74%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 25 41 31 2 651,620
2008 population (est.) 19 39 39 2 726,340
Change from 2000 to 2008 -6 -2 +8 0 +74,720
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
31% Bush-69% Gore 21% McCain-78% Obama -10% Republican, +9% Democratic

District 32 (Burnt Orange): Dallas County-Dallas, Farmer’s Branch, University/Highland Park, Irving

2002 winner and winning percentage: Pete Sessions (R), 68%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 55 9 27 6 651,619
2008 population (est.) 44 9 38 7 703,588
Change from 2000 to 2008 -11 0 +11 +1 +51,969
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
65% Bush-35% Gore 53% McCain-46% Obama -12% Republican, +13% Democratic

Houston Area

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District 7 (Gray): Harris County-western Houston, the Villages

2002 winner and winning percentage: John Culberson (R), 89%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 50 11 26 11 651,620
2008 population (est.) 43 11 32 12 746,517
Change from 2000 to 2008 -7 0 +6 +1 +94,897
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
68% Bush-32% Gore 55% McCain-44% Obama -13% Republican, +12% Democratic

District 8 (Dark Lavender): Harris and Montgomery Counties-Jersey Village, Humble, Conroe

2002 winner and winning percentage: Kevin Brady (R), 93%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 77 5 13 3 651,619
2008 population (est.) 71 6 18 4 846,293
Change from 2000 to 2008 -6 +1 +5 +1 +194,674
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
78% Bush-22% Gore 71% McCain-28% Obama -7% Republican, +6% Democratic

District 18 (Banana Yellow): Harris County-Houston

2002 winner and winning percentage: Sheila Jackson-Lee (D), 77%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 21 42 33 3 651,620
2008 population (est.) 18 41 38 3 779,948
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 -1 +5 0 +128,328
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
26% Bush-74% Gore 22% McCain-77% Obama -4% Republican, +3% Democratic

District 22 (Brown): Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Harris Counties-Rosenberg, Sugarland, Pearland, Pasadena

2002 winner and winning percentage: Tom DeLay (R), 63%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 60 10 20 8 651,619
2008 population (est.) 52 12 23 12 866,297
Change from 2000 to 2008 -8 +2 +3 +4 +214,678
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
68% Bush-32% Gore 59% McCain-40% Obama -9% Republican, +8% Democratic

District 25 (Dark Pink): Fort Bend and Harris Counties-Houston, Belaire, University Place, South Houston, Baytown

2002 winner and winning percentage: Chris Bell (D), 55%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 37 23 34 5 651,619
2008 population (est.) 32 22 40 5 683,417
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 -1 +6 0 +156,401
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
48% Bush-52% Gore 41% McCain-59% Obama -7% Republican, +7% Democratic

District 29 (Grayish Green): Harris County-Houston, Jacinto City, Galena Park, South Houston

2002 winner and winning percentage: Gene Green (D), 95%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 20 15 62 2 651,620
2008 population (est.) 16 13 68 2 825,305
Change from 2000 to 2008 -4 -2 +6 0 +173,685
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
39% Bush-61% Gore 31% McCain-69% Obama -8% Republican, +8% Democratic

Central Texas

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District 10 (Magenta): Travis County-Austin

2002 winner and winning percentage: Lloyd Doggett (D), 84%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 50 11 33 4 651,619
2008 population (est.) 45 10 38 5 809,987
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 -1 +5 +1 +158,368
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
47% Bush-53% Gore 28% McCain-70% Obama -19% Republican, +17% Democratic

District 11 (Lime Green): Central Texas-Waco, Georgetown, Temple, Killeen

2002 winner and winning percentage: Chet Edwards (D), 52%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 64 15 16 2 651,620
2008 population (est.) 61 15 20 2 742,620
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 0 +4 0 +91,000
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
67% Bush-33% Gore 61% McCain-38% Obama -6% Republican, +5% Democratic

District 14 (Bronze): Texas Hill Country and Texas Coastline-Victoria, San Marcos, Calhoun, Seguin

2002 winner and winning percentage: Ron Paul (R), 68%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 58 8 32 1 651,620
2008 population (est.) 54 8 35 1 751,893
Change from 2000 to 2008 -4 0 +3 0 +100,273
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
66% Bush-34% Gore 62% McCain-37% Obama -4% Republican, +3% Democratic

District 21 (Maroon): Central/West Texas-San Antonio, Austin, New Braunfels

2002 winner and winning percentage: Lamar Smith (R), 73%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 77 2 17 2 651,619
2008 population (est.) 74 2 20 3 779,551
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 0 +3 +1 +127,932
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
73% Bush-27% Gore 62% McCain-37% Obama -11% Republican, +10% Democratic

District 31 (Beige): Central Texas and Houston suburbs/exurbs: Round Rock, Bryan, Sealy, Katy

2002 winner and winning percentage: John Carter (R), 69%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 69 9 17 3 651,620
2008 population (est.) 64 9 21 4 780,639
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 0 +4 +1 +129,019
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
72% Bush-28% Gore 60% McCain-38% Obama -12% Republican, +10% Democratic

West Texas

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District 13 (Tan): West Texas-Wichita Falls, Amarillo

2002 winner and winning percentage: Mac Thornberry (R), 79%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 70 6 22 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 65 6 26 1 654,677
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 0 +4 0 +3,058
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
75% Bush-25% Gore 76% McCain-23% Obama +1% Republican, -2% Democratic

District 16 (Bright Green): El Paso County: El Paso

2002 winner and winning percentage: Silvestre Reyes (D), unopposed

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 17 3 78 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 14 3 81 1 683,417
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 0 +3 0 +59,428
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
41% Bush-59% Gore 33% McCain-66% Obama -8% Republican, +7% Democratic

District 17 (Iris): West Texas: Abilene, San Angelo

2002 winner and winning percentage: Charlie Stenholm (D), 51%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 75 4 20 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 71 4 23 1 683,417
Change from 2000 to 2008 -4 0 +3 0 +16,986
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
72% Bush-28% Gore 75% McCain-24% Obama +3% Republican, -4% Democratic

District 19 (Pea Green): West Texas-Lubbock, Big Spring, Midland, Odessa

2002 winner and winning percentage: Larry Combest (R), 92%

2003 special election winner and winning percentage: Randy Neugebauer (R), 51%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 58 6 34 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 53 6 39 1 689,654
Change from 2000 to 2008 -5 0 +5 0 +38,035
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
76% Bush-24% Gore 73% McCain-27% Obama -3% Republican, +3% Democratic

San Antonio and South Texas

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District 15 (Tangerine): South Texas- McAllen, Kingsville

2002 winner and winning percentage: Ruben Hinojosa (D), unopposed

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 17 3 78 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 14 3 81 1 711,047
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 0 +3 0 +59,428
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
41% Bush-59% Gore 33% McCain-66% Obama -8% Republican, +7% Democratic

District 20 (Light Pink): Bexar County-San Antonio

2002 winner and winning percentage: Charlie Gonzalez, unopposed

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 24 5 68 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 21 5 71 2 776,861
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 0 +3 +1 +125,242
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
43% Bush-57% Gore 36% McCain-63% Obama -7% Republican, +6% Democratic

District 23 (Light Blue): West and South Texas: El Paso, Eagle Pass, Laredo, San Antonio

2002 winner and winning percentage: Henry Bonilla (R), 52%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 30 1 67 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 27 1 69 1 728,212
Change from 2000 to 2008 -3 0 +2 0 +76,593
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
59% Bush-41% Gore 50% McCain-49% Obama -9% Republican, +8% Democratic

District 27 (Spring Green): South Texas-Corpus Christi, Harlingen, Brownsville

2002 winner and winning percentage: Solomon Ortiz, 61%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 25 2 72 1 651,619
2008 population (est.) 21 2 75 1 717,846
Change from 2000 to 2008 -4 0 +3 0 +66,227
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
49% Bush-51% Gore 43% McCain-56% Obama -6% Republican, +5% Democratic

District 28 (Rose): South Texas and Bexar County: San Antonio, McAllen

2002 winner and winning percentage: Ciro Rodriguez (D), 71%

% white % black % Hispanic % Asian Total district population
2000 population 21 8 70 1 651,620
2008 population (est.) 19 7 72 1 761,316
Change from 2000 to 2008 -2 -1 +2 0 +109,696
2000 presidential results 2008 presidential results Partisan swing from 2000 to 2008
41% Bush-59% Gore 36% McCain-63% Obama -5% Republican, +4% Democratic

So what would have happened in the past three elections had this map stayed in place for the rest of the decade? Often people assume that the Anglo Democratic incumbents who were targeted would have been reelected had the redistricting not occurred. This is definitely true in the case of Martin Frost, Lloyd Doggett, and Chris Bell, whose already Democratic and urban districts have shifted even more to the left since 2000. But the other Anglo Democrats largely came from more rural, Republican-leaning areas, and their districts all went for Bush in 2000. This list includes Max Sandlin, Jim Turner, Ralph Hall, Nick Lampson, Chet Edwards, and Charles Stenholm. Now let’s look at a county map of Texas showing the change between 2000 and 2008, with the congressional districts where Gore outperformed Obama superimposed over the map.

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Despite a roughly 4% move towards the Democrats statewide between 2000 and 2008, there were 6 congressional districts where Obama  actually did worse than Gore: TX-01 (Max Sandlin (D)), TX-02 (Jim Turner (D)), TX-04 (Ralph Hall (D)), TX-09 (Nick Lampson (D)), TX-13 (Mac Thornberry (R)), and TX-17 (Charlie Stenholm (D)). Besides TX-13, all of these districts elected Democrats in 2002. In addition, all of the Anglo Democrats elected in districts that Bush won in 2000 saw their districts become more Republican over time, with one exception. TX-11 in Central Texas would have become notably more Democratic during this time period, and  its representative, Chet Edwards, is the only one of these men still in office as a Democrat.

However, I am not convinced that the marked rightward shift would have occurred inevitably had the boundaries not changed in the 2003 redistricting. Many residents in these districts were trending Republican at the presidential level, but felt comfortable continuing to vote for Democrats at the congressional level. But in 2004, the redrawn districts included areas that had previously been represented by Republicans or by other targeted Democratic members, meaning the advantage of incumbency was greatly diminished. This led to the defeat, party switching, or retirement of all the legislators listed above, but I believe, also contributed to these areas becoming more Republican at the presidential level in 2004 and 2008. Without the option to vote for a familiar incumbent Democrat for Congress further down the ballot, voters felt less inclined to vote for a Democrat at any level, including President. Had the 2003 redistricting not occurred, I believe not only that several of these lawmakers might still be in office, but Obama may have even performed better in these districts in 2008.

Other than the representatives just discussed, I believe that all of the other Democratic and Republican incumbents would still be in office right now, with the possible exceptions of John Culberson (R, 7th) and Henry Bonilla (R, 23rd), whose districts would have become much more competitive by the end of the decade. But I think this analysis shows that in the long-term, Texas is turning blue, and it is only a matter of time before the shifts to the Democrats in the Houston area, the Dallas/Forth Worth Area, and Central Texas finally push Texas into the Democratic column.

By what margin will Bob Shamansky win?

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