UPDATE
“The #TXlege is holding a redistricting hearing this Fri — we need North Texans in that room,”Johnson wrote on X.
The hearing takes place on Friday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. In the Texas Capitol Extension Room E1.030
If you would like to attend but need a ride from Dallas, reserve a seat at https://bit.ly/NDallasTrip
“Let’s show up & fight for fair maps,” she wrote.
ORIGINAL POST
Although Rep. Marc Veasey was the target of redistricting in North Texas by Republicans, Rep. Julie Johnson’s district is the North Texas victim in the first redrawn congressional district map that was released by Republicans in Austin this week.
In the proposed new map, Veasey’s district, which stretches from Oak Cliff to south Fort Worth, changes from 71 percent Democratic to 68 percent.
Johnson’s district changes from 62 percent Democratic to 60 percent Republican. Her current district stretches from Plano to Dallas and includes Addison and Farmers Branch. The proposed district would extend from Dallas deep into heavily Republican East Texas.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s district remains largely the same going from 75 to 76 percent Democratic. The one percent change takes Democrats away from Johnson.
In its attempt to steal a seat from the Democrats around Austin, Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s already heavily Democratic district would be gerrymandered more than it already is. His district would go from 75 to 80 percent Democrats. That will leave fewer Democrats in neighboring districts.
Around Houston, District 18, currently vacant but most recently represented by the late Sylvester Turner, would be packed with more Democrats, going from 70 to 78 percent. Packing more Democrats into the seat makes surrounding Democratic seats more vulnerable.
— David Taffet