GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A federal judge has ordered Galveston County to redraw its precinct maps, saying it denies Blacks and Latinos equal voting rights, therefore violating the Voting Rights Act.
The map for Commissioners Court Precinct 3, represented by Stephen Holmes since 1999, initially had 61% Black and Latino voters but was reduced to 31% during the 2021 redistricting process.
“In one of the paragraphs [Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown] said that it was stark, it was jarring, it was shocking, and it was meanspirited and egregious what was done to Precinct 3,” Commissioner Holmes said.
A benchmark plan submitted in court documents shows what would’ve kept Precinct 3 a majority Black and Latino district, but the county commissioners adopted a different plan that “dismantled” the voting bloc, according to attorneys with the Texas Civil Rights Project.
“The judge used very strong language in this decision about how egregious this particular example was, where they are actively trying to destroy a district that’s existed for decades,” Joaquin Gonzalez, senior supervising attorney with the voting rights program said.
The Texas Civil Rights Project agrees with the judge's ruling, saying the maps are discriminatory.
On Friday, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry issued a statement on the ruling.
“The County followed redistricting laws and did not engage in any racial discrimination. We believe this will be vindicated by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As County Judge, I have never lost a Voting Rights Act case on appeal,” he said.
Commissioner Holmes says this redistricting process was different than the previous two times he had been a part of it.
“We had public meetings after .hours, after work, when people could come and voice their opinion. This time, we only had the one meeting where the maps were adopted in the middle of the day,” Commissioner Holmes said.
A photo submitted as part of evidence shows several people packed into a small meeting protesting the maps.
“It doesn’t really hurt me as much because I’m the elected official, but what I think it hurts is the community because what it does to the community, the Black and Latino community, it deprives the community of the right to elect the candidate of their choice,” he said.
According to the judge’s order, the county must submit a new redistricting plan by Friday, Oct. 20. The court order says the plaintiffs in the case may file objections to the plan. The redistricting maps must be adopted prior to the 2024 election.
Calls and emails requesting an interview with the Galveston County Judge were not returned.