During a special session of the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court on Monday, commissioners voted 3–2 along party lines to adopt a new mid-decade redistricting map that divides the county’s political landscape more evenly between Republicans and Democrats.

The prior map, adopted in 2021 by a Democrat-majority court, had given Democrats a 3–1 advantage across the county. The newly approved map evens the balance, creating two Republican and two Democrat precincts.

According to the court’s Republican majority, the 2021 map was drawn along racial rather than political or neutral lines, an approach they argued was not only unfair but potentially illegal under state and federal law.

Democrat Commissioner Dexter McCoy rejected those claims and instead argued that the new lines undermine minority representation. “These new maps fracture established communities and prioritize political gain over fair representation,” McCoy said. “In their effort to engineer two white plurality precincts, the GOP majority has disregarded our county’s rich diversity—the very fabric of Fort Bend’s identity. The voices of minority residents have been undervalued in this process.”

The new maps were the result of a process that began in February, culminating in five proposed drafts presented to the court last week. Each proposal came from a member of the Citizens Redistricting Advisory Committee, which was made up of citizen representatives appointed by each commissioner.

Jacob Lee, appointed by County Judge KP George, gave a detailed presentation explaining how the maps were created and what factors were considered, following an exchange with McCoy the previous week where he had promised to share the rationale.

McCoy repeatedly questioned Lee about the process, focusing heavily on claims that the 2021 redistricting lacked sufficient public participation. McCoy argued that the prior process had included public input and that participation would have been higher had it not been for COVID-19 restrictions.

Lee countered that by the time the 2021 maps were finalized, pandemic restrictions were largely lifted and public engagement then was not precinct-specific, meaning speakers could have all come from one area. The new process, he said, ensured input from residents of every precinct through the advisory committee.

The meeting featured tense exchanges between commissioners, County Judge KP George, and several speakers. George had to gavel the court back to order multiple times, and the debate grew heated enough that Precinct 2 Constable Daryl Smith Jr. stood up at one point, appearing ready to step in. The full commissioners court meeting can be viewed here. 

Judge George, who was elected as a Democrat but switched his party affiliation to Republican in June, said he was proud of the new map.

Democrat commissioners warned that adopting the map, and particularly citing racial gerrymandering as the reason for redrawing the lines, could expose the county to litigation.

Republican Commissioner Andy Meyers defended the move, saying the court had simply corrected an existing problem.

Meyers, who defeated Democrat Taral Patel last year—Patel has since pleaded guilty to impersonating elected officials and sending racist messages to himself during the campaign—said after the vote, “Today Commissioners Court took action to correct what had been a flawed process that resulted in an illegal map that did not meet state and federal statutes. Today’s decision also more fairly reflects the political makeup of Fort Bend County voters; roughly 50 percent Republican and 50 percent Democrat.”

Because the new map was adopted before the filing deadline for the upcoming election, it will take effect immediately and remain in place for all future elections unless a court challenge overturns it or a future Democrat majority votes to change it again.

Michael Wilson

Michael Wilson is a 5th generation Texan, born and raised just outside of Houston, Texas. He is a devout Christian as well as a husband and father of 2 beautiful children. He fights for Houston daily as a radio host on Patriot Talk 920 AM. @sirmichaelwill

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