Is Texas really turning blue?

[Sbane]

I don't see Texas turning blue since a lot of the recent trend has to do with well educated suburban voters swinging to the Dems. These people might swing right back under a Dem president. That being said, it is becoming a purple state and if the GOP becomes the party of Trump in the long-term, Texas will turn blue. If they focus more on fiscal conservatism, Texas will still vote for them.

[Sbane]

The rules for drawing house districts really hampers the Texas GOP. You can't just connect Dallas, Harris and Travis counties with exurban/rural areas and create GOP districts that way. They have to stay within the county, which was fine when there were plenty of Republican leaning suburbs within those counties. Not the case anymore.

[Sbane]

The rules for drawing house districts really hampers the Texas GOP. You can't just connect Dallas, Harris and Travis counties with exurban/rural areas and create GOP districts that way. They have to stay within the county, which was fine when there were plenty of Republican leaning suburbs within those counties. Not the case anymore.

Looking at the Congressional maps, I imagine this only applies to the state maps?

That is correct.

[Sbane]

The rules for drawing house districts really hampers the Texas GOP. You can't just connect Dallas, Harris and Travis counties with exurban/rural areas and create GOP districts that way. They have to stay within the county, which was fine when there were plenty of Republican leaning suburbs within those counties. Not the case anymore.

Looking at the Congressional maps, I imagine this only applies to the state maps?

That is correct.

Is that a state constitutional requirement or just statutory?

Sorry for the late response but here you go:

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https://tlc.texas.gov/redist/requirements/house.html