The potential for Texas and other similar states to redraw Congressional districts is capturing national attention. Gerrymandering has long been a contentious issue in various regions. The courts have also aimed to inject themselves into this political process.
This situation seems especially relevant for Texas, which, despite not generating much heated discussion, could lead to significant political ramifications.
When Texas joined the Union in 1845, one peculiar clause allowed it to potentially break into multiple states. So, while Democrats propose adding areas like Columbia and Puerto Rico to boost their numbers in Congress, not many realize Texans could hold greater sway over U.S. politics than they might think.
John “Cactus Jack” Garner, Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1941, once remarked, “A region twice the size and rapidly populated by New England should have at least 10 senators, and the only way we can get is to create five states.”
This perspective fits into the broader Texan narrative; leaders frequently invoke this right to divide the state for political advantage.
Historical advocates of this notion reference the 1845 Parliamentary Resolution on Texas annexation, which claimed, “A new state of convenient size that does not exceed four can, in addition to having a sufficient population with the state of Texas, with the consent of that state, be entitled to enroll in accordance with the provisions of the federal constitution.”
In 1847, Texas Governor Isaac Van Zandt aimed to split Texas into at least four states. Tragically, he died of yellow fever before he could take office, stalling those plans.
By 1868, anti-slavery West Texans put forth a constitution that advocated for the equal rights of former black slaves, showcasing a progressive vision that emerged during the Texas Constitutional Convention.
Currently, Republicans control the governorship and both legislative chambers in Texas, opening a political Pandora’s box that could reshape the U.S. Senate for years to come. If Texas were to split into five states, it could potentially add eight senators, allowing for strategic map drawing that might favor Republicans.
Nate Silver has speculated that a 2009 proposal could lead to a balance of six Republican senators and four Democrats. However, since then, Texas has transformed significantly, particularly in the “Er Norte” region, north of the Rio Grande, which has shifted in favor of Republican sentiments. The current demographics could yield an 8-2 or 9-1 advantage for Republicans with new maps.
It’s important to note that while Silver’s proposals have merit, it will ultimately be Texas Republicans who draw these new boundaries. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for them to design a map granting Republicans all ten Senate seats. A net gain of six seems feasible.
Regardless of whether Governor Greg Abbott’s rezoning plan succeeds or not, he might be eyeing a broader strategy to navigate around the current stalemates in the U.S. Senate that often derail executive appointments and create a budgetary mess.
It seems clear – Republicans might consider this as “tinkering with Texas.”
