Census could alter politics in SE Texas - Delegation might shift with population

Sonja Garza and Jeannie Kever
The Beaumont Enterprise
December 22, 2010

Texas will gain four new congressional seats, according to numbers released Tuesday by the U. S. Census Bureau.

And the Census will affect Southeast Texas' political map at both the federal and state levels because of the state's population growth, particularly in the Houston area, compared to the loss of population in the region, State Rep. Joe Deshotel said.

Redistricting might result in Southeast Texas regaining a congressional seat; regaining a state senator from Southeast Texas and a reduction from three state representatives to two, Deshotel said.

Texas' population increased by 20.6 percent in the past 10 years, according to the 2010 Census.

Growth in other areas of the state, including in Harris and Montgomery counties, could result in a congressional district anchored in Jefferson County, said Deshotel, who is on the House of Representative's Redistricting Committee.

"We (could) have a congressman totally dependent on Southeast Texas for his or her election," said Deshotel, adding that it would give Southeast Texas residents more influence with that congressman.

Deshotel explained that Southeast Texas counties currently are split between two congressional districts anchored in Harris and Montgomery counties. Redistricting could result in a congressional seat made up of Southeast Texas counties, he said.

"Right now, we have two congressmen. Neither live in our area,"he said.

The Census Bureau announced population totals for the U. S. and individual states, the first release of information from the 2010 Census. As of April 1,the U.S. population had increased to 308,745,538 people, a 9.7 percent increase since the 2000 Census.

The Census is conducted every decade to determine the country's population.

Texas was the state that gained the most numerically in the last decade, increasing by 4.2 million people to 25.1 million people, the Census Bureau reported.

Percentage-wise, Nevada showed the largest gain, 35.1 percent, since 2000. Texas State Demographer Lloyd Potter said Texas had the fifth highest rate of growth among the states.

Texas will now have a total of 36 seats in Congress, Potter said.

"That has all kinds of implications for us," he said. "Certainly, it ensures that our population is represented in the federal government."

Potter added that it also gives Texas more political clout and strength in terms of the next presidential election.

Though the increased population also would imply that Texas would receive more federal funding, Potter noted that most federal funding is on a per capita basis.

"Yeah, we get a bigger piece of the pie, but we have more people the money needs to go to,"Potter said.

While Texas as a whole made population gains in the past decade, the Census Bureau estimates that Jefferson and Orange counties declined in population from 2000 to 2009, while Hardin County's population slightly increased.

Jeff Branick, Jefferson County judge-elect, will wait to see what the more detailed Census numbers for the region show when they are released in February and March.

"(I'm) concerned whether or not the Census was able to accurately count the residents of Jefferson County," he said.

Branick said a number of Hispanic residents came to the area after Hurricanes Ike and Rita to help rebuild and stayed here. Branick also cited refinery expansion as bringing some residents to this area.

Potter said Texas saw a fairly large migration from Louisiana post Hurricane Katrina.

More detailed information -- including racial and ethnic breakdowns of the population, and where in each state the population is concentrated -- will be released in February and March. That data will be used to redraw the boundaries of congressional districts, as well as other political districts.

The population numbers are also used to dole out $400 billion in federal grants and other programs, as well as for planning such government services as highways and schools.

But apportionment--the process of dividing the 435 congressional seats among the 50 states, based on population-- and the more detailed information used for drawing those and other political districts is one of the most politically charged uses of census data.

Texas' gains are good news for Republicans, since Texas is a solidly Republican state. But the Voting Rights Act is meant to ensure that minority votes aren't diluted, so a Republican-majorityLegislature-- made even stronger by the parties victories in November--won't necessarily be able to ensure all of the new seats lean GOP. And the state's surging Hispanic population likely will account for at least one of the new seats.

The Houston metropolitan area might gain a new seat in fast-growing northwest Harris County.

Texas currently has 32 congressional seats; it gained two after the 2000 Census.
Memo: Population
County

2000 Census

2009 estimate
Jefferson .......................252,051...................... 243,237
Hardin .............................48,073........................ 53,424
Orange ............................84,966........................ 81,816
Median age
Median age

2000 Census

2005-09 estimate
Jefferson County .........35.3 years....................35.6 years
Hardin County ................36 years....................37.7 years
Orange County ............36.1 years....................37.8 years
Median household income
2000 Census

2005-09 estimate*
Jefferson County ............$34,706...................... $41,420
Hardin County ................$37,612...................... $52,515
Orange County ...............$37,586...................... $45,608
*In 2009 inflation-adjusted dollars
Source: U. S. Census Bureau