Texas Galveston County Redistricting Challenge (Petteway)

Lawsuit filed on behalf of Galveston County voters challenging the 2021 enacted redistricting plan for the county’s Commissioners Court precincts. Following the release of 2020 census data, the four districts for the Commissioners Court were redrawn. The plaintiffs argue that the map drawers intentionally created a discriminatory redistricting plan in which all four precincts were predominantly white, thereby denying Black and Latino voters the ability to elect candidates of their choice in any district. The lawsuit alleges that this racially gerrymandered map, which “cracks Black and Latino” voters across the county’s four precincts, violates the 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs also argue that the enacted map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by intentionally “denying Black and Hispanic voters an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice by diluting their voting strength.” The case was consolidated with two others challenging Galveston’s redistricting plan, with this case being designated as the lead where future filings can be found. A trial was held on Aug. 7, 2023.

Last updated: September 13, 2023 5:12 pm EST