Redrawing electoral district lines shortly before the midterm elections proved a painful self-inflicted wound for Republicans. In Texas, the GOP not only failed to gain five additional seats in Congress but lost some of them to Democrats. Instead of the planned 30 seats, the party won 24. Democrats, meanwhile, increased their representation to 14 members of Congress.
The new district lines were meant to allow Republicans to take up to five seats previously held by Democrats. In the end, of the five districts Republicans were targeting, the GOP candidate won only one. In the new 32nd Congressional District in North Texas, Jace Yarbrough defeated Democrat Dan Barrios. Although he lost in the portions of the district in Dallas and Collin counties, he won in the other five.
In the four remaining districts covered by the redistricting plan, Democrats won. In the 9th District in the Houston area, Leticia Gutierrez defeated Republican Alex Mealer by nearly 26,000 votes. In the 28th District, which includes Laredo, incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar held his seat, beating Tano Tijerina by more than 62,000 votes. Vicente Gonzalez won in the 34th District in South Texas, defeating Eric Flores by more than 32,000 votes. In the 35th District near San Antonio, Democrat Johnny Garcia beat Carlos De La Cruz by more than 27,000 votes.
Republicans also lost two seats they had expected to hold. In the 15th District, Monica De La Cruz lost to Democratic candidate and Tejano singer Bobby Pulido by nearly 50,000 votes. In the 23rd District, Katy Padilla Stout defeated Republican Brandon Herrera by more than 22,000 votes.
Editor: JŁ
