Houston City Council Sued for Racial Bias in Districting, and Rare Use of At-large Positions Among, Large, and Texas Cities.

Suit alleges a disproportionate representation of Latinos at city council. Currently, there are two Latino CMs among sixteen (12.5) representing a Latino Plurality (44% per 2020 US Census). Among the citizen voting age population (CVAP), Latinos represent 31% of Houstonians, per 2016-2020 American Community Survey. In the 43-year history of At-Large positions on Houston City Council only two have ever been Latinos. Currently among the districts only two are plurality Latino (CVAP). In 2017, a federal judge ruled the practice of At-Large positions at the Pasanda City Council to be discriminatory to their Latino Plurality.

Houston is the only major Texas city with At-Large positions. Among the 2 of 10 largest US cities with at large positions, the other Philadelphia, has restricted at-large positions (minority party protections).

Sources

Texas Tribune

KHOU