(CNN) – A three-judge federal panel proposed Wednesday that the Republican and Democratic parties of Texas hold their primaries on May 29.
The decision, although a tentative one, followed a two-day hearing on the state’s controversial redistricting battle and aims to give the state more time to finalize its new map.
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Texas was originally slated to hold its contest in March but pushed the date back to April 3 as state lawmakers and minority groups tangled over redistricting lines.
Now the court recommends the late-May date in case a final deal isn’t reached by April.
In a statement released after the decision, the state’s GOP said it would prepare a “timeline of scenarios to accomplish” holding a primary on May 29.
However, the party added it remained concerned that Texas would lose its influence in the presidential nominating process.
“Texas has 155 delegates and party leaders hope the state will still be in play. They have an attractive block of delegates and look forward to the candidates coming to Texas to compete for them,” said Chris Elam, communications director for the state party.
Texas Democrats also responded to the decision, saying it would begin “working immediately” with the state GOP on an “election schedule to meet the request of the judges.”
“For the Texas Democratic Party, the most important thing continues to be that the people of Texas have fair maps that accurately represent them,” the statement said.
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The thing we're unable to face here in Texas is the very basis of the problem. Our state government is controlled by the right-wing of the Republican Party and our demographics are dominated by white middle-class but moving towards a Hispanic majority. If the Republicans don't create a cleverly designed districting system, they will soon face an unheard of situation in Texas – a need to support somebody other than white Christians or get voted out of office. The Tom DeLay model was supposed to solve this problem promising a Republican majority forever. Is that democracy? A majority forever?:
That is a problem with one party rule in a society that has many different groups in it. They all need to be represented and the GOP there in Texas didn't think their representation was important.
Newt is counting on yew Texans..
The constitutional " checks and balances" seems to go out of the window with this process of electoral boundary changes. I heard a theory that 50 000 voters were entitled to representation thT NUMBER MAY NEED TO BE INCREASED BECAUSE OF POPULATION GROWTH.
The simple rule is draw a boundary in the smallest area possible to give that 50K or ?? 150 K people the power they should exert state House and Senate wise, consequently delegate wise for presidential elections
Another corrupt state controlled by the elitist predators in the GOBP deathcult.
This nation can not afford another Republican idiot to loot, cheat, and send you to war, kill people, and drain treasury. Sorry. No we can not afford Trickle Down either.