What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

Answer 1

In the redistricting following the 2000 census, the close balance of power in the house-with party control hinging on only six seats-made the process especially charged. Both republicans and Democrates went to court to challenge remaps that they viewed as unfair. In 2003, Texas Republicans took the unprecedented steps of redrawing the lines set in 2001 rather than waiting for the next census. The 2001 lines were drawn by a judicial panel when the politically divided legislature could not agree on a plan. In 2002, Texas elected 17 Democrates and 15 Republicans to the House. Republican leaders felt that the strong Democratic showing was the result of a flawed redistricting plan, since Republicans won the overall vote in Texas with 53% of the vote for House seats. Texas Republicans, who now controlled the state legislature as well as the governor's office, moved to redraw the map. The republican congressional majority leader at the time, Tom Delay (Tex.), played a central role in pushing the Texas legislature to take this step. the effort produced the high drama when Texas Democratic legislatures fled to first Oklahoma and later New Mexico to prevent passage of the plan. After 45 days in New Mexico in July and August 2003, 11 state senators returned to Texas. The state legislature quickly approved the new map, which promised to be far more favorable to republican.