10/13/2023

ttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-rules-new-galveston-commissioner-map-violates-voting-rights-act/ar-AA1iaDcD

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Galveston was: White: 68.57% Black or African American: 16.15% Two or more races: 9.55% Asian: 2.7% Other race: 2.36%

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Judge rules new Galveston commissioner map violates Voting Rights Act© Google Maps

A federal judge has ruled that Galveston County’s commissioner precinct map, which was passed in 2021, violates the U.S. Voting Rights Act and county leaders must redo them.

Judge Jeffrey Brown of the U.S. District court for the Southern District of Texas early Friday gave the county several timelines for adopting a new map, explaining that the existing districts violate the Voting Rights Act by denying Black and Latino voters equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Former President Donald Trump appointed Brown to the seat.

The ruling forbids the county from “administering, enforcing, preparing for, or in any way permitting the nomination or election of county commissioners from the commissioners court precinct map as currently configured.”

The current map dismantles the district represented by Commissioner Stephen Holmes, all but ensuring his defeat in 2024. Holmes, who is Black, represents the only minority majority district in the county.

“It’s a good day for the people of Precinct 3,” Holmes said.

MORE ON CASE: Judge allows voting rights lawsuit against Galveston County to move forward

An attorney for one of the plaintiffs said the county could appeal Friday’s decision, but officials would face an uphill battle in overturning it.

“We are glad that the court ruled in favor of our clients and will hold the Galveston County Commissioners Court accountable for fixing this blatantly discriminatory map,” said Joaquin Gonzalez, senior supervising attorney for the voting rights program at the Texas Civil Rights Project. “Racial gerrymandering is not a new tactic — it impacts voters of color every election cycle, and this case proves that voters will not sit idly by while politicians aim to diminish their power. We are proud of today’s outcome and of the Galveston community for taking on and winning their fight for representation.

Houston ChronicleFollow

Judge rules new Galveston commissioner map violates Voting Rights Act

Redistricting litigation is extremely common in Texas, but civil rights groups have had mixed success. One glimmer of hope for the plaintiffs: While the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court in recent years has moved to weaken the Voting Rights Act, the high court in June issued an unexpected ruling in Alabama that upheld the landmark legislation and struck down a map on the basis of racial discrimination.

The U.S. Department of Justice led a host of plaintiffs in March 2022 when it sued Galveston County over the new map, accusing Republican officials of violating the law when they carved up the commissioner court precincts into four majority-white districts. 

County’s maps were tossed in 2012, too

This is not the first time Galveston County’s district maps have faced scrutiny.

In 2012, federal officials struck down the county’s commissioner, constable and justice-of-the-peace maps, finding they ran afoul of the Voting Rights Act by diminishing the power of minority voters.

Representatives for the county did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Holmes said the county has changed much since he was first appointed to the court in 1998. At the time, the first Republican had just been elected to the court, he said. Now, Holmes is the lone remaining Democrat.

Before joining the court, Holmes served as a prosecutor with the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office.

Under the terms of Friday’s ruling, the county has until Oct. 20 to submit a new redistricting plan. The new plan must be submitted with expert analysis explaining why it complies with the Voting Rights Act.

The judge will host a hearing on Nov. 1 to determine which redistricting plan to institute, according to the ruling. And if the county declines to submit a revised plan, then the judge will require it to use another plan until commissioners adopt their own.

Taylor Goldenstein contributed reporting from Austin.

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