Particle.news
Download on the App Store
12 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Tarrant County Commissioners Approve Republican-Favored Redistricting Map

Opponents promise court challenges over alleged racial gerrymandering that could dilute minority representation.

A map of the four precincts in Tarrant County.
Meeting attendees pack the court room for a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting at the Tarrant County Administration Building in Fort Worth on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The approval for redistricting is on the agenda for the meeting and has been a controversial topic for the communities possibly affected.
The voting board at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court at the Tarrant County Administration Building in Fort Worth on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Image

Overview

  • The five-member court voted 3-2 along party lines after contracting with the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation, which used seven maps drawn by the National Republican Redistricting Trust and ignored nine citizen-submitted proposals.
  • Under the new boundaries, Precinct 2 flips from a Democratic to a narrow Republican majority, shifting the court’s balance from two Democrats and two Republicans to a 3-1 GOP edge.
  • Local mayors and civil rights organizations urged a delay to incorporate updated population data and criticized the process for lacking transparency and broader community input.
  • Critics warn the map reduces majority-minority districts from two to one and have vowed to sue under the Voting Rights Act over alleged voter dilution.
  • Shortly after the vote, State Rep. Tony Tinderholt announced his campaign for the Precinct 2 seat currently held by Democrat Alisa Simmons, foreshadowing a heated 2026 election.