El Paso Democrats return Fort Bliss to House District 79, fail to keep fifth seat
El Paso’s Texas House delegation failed to convince their Republican colleagues Tuesday to revise a proposed redistricting plan that pits incumbent El Paso Democrats against one another in next year’s election.
The Texas House voted 83-63 along party lines early Wednesday after a marathon 18-hour debate to approve new state legislative boundaries that pair state Reps. Evelina “Lina” Ortega and Claudia Ordaz Perez in the redrawn House District 77.
State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, attempted to keep Ortega and Ordaz Perez in their current seats, Districts 77 and 76, respectively, by redrawing House District 75 so it would include far east El Paso County and eight West Texas counties. That amendment failed along party lines. Both Ortega and Ordaz Perez have said they plan to run for reelection in 2022.
The delegation was able to get the majority of Fort Bliss back into state Rep. Art Fierro’s House District 79 and Hueco Tanks returned to state Rep. Mary González’s House District 75. Those landmarks had initially been redrawn into House District 74, an expansive seat currently held by state Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass.
Read more: https://elpasomatters.org/2021/10/13/el-paso-democrats-return-fort-bliss-to-house-district-79-fail-to-keep-fifth-seat/