Texas Senate District 10 From the standpoints of racial fairness, voting rights enforcement, political fairness and regional representation, Senate District 10 should be protected as a Fort Worth-based district that will continue to provide minority voters the opportunity to elect their candidate of choice. Current Senate District 10 assures racial fairness in North Texas Tarrant County alone has more than 480,000 Hispanic residents and 268,000 African-American residents. • The 2010 Census shows SD 10 is a majority-minority district, with Anglos making up less than 48 percent of the population. • SD 10 is one of only two Texas Senate districts north of Austin that provide minority voters an effective voice in State Senate elections. • The African American community in Tarrant County is the third largest in the State of Texas and is within SD 10. Dismantling SD10 will either strand this community into a Republican district or pack them into an already effective minority district. Either one would violate the Voting Rights Act • The current incumbent, Wendy Davis, enjoys overwhelming support from both African-American and Hispanic voters. In her election in 2008, she received over 85 percent support from AfricanAmericans and over 70 percent support from Hispanic voters. Dramatically altering Senate District 10 would most assuredly violate the Voting Rights Act SD10 is one of at least 12 Texas State Senate districts that provide minority voters an effective opportunity to elect their candidate of choice. • The State of Texas acknowledged that current SD 10 would likely perform as an effective minority opportunity district in its request for pre-clearance to the US Department of Justice in 2001. The State said: ..District 10 contain[s] significant minority communities that are essentially kept intact within [the] district. The voting strength of these minority communities in the future will depend on the cohesion within and between Black and Hispanic voters and the ability of such voters to form coalitions with other racial or ethnic groups in support of their preferred candidates. (State of Texas Section 5 Preclearance submission, August 2001) • As predicted, during the last decade, African-American and Hispanic voters were cohesive in SD 10 forming effective coalitions, which was specifically demonstrated when they joined together with other like-minded voters to elect Wendy Davis in 2006. Senate District 10 helps assure political fairness While Republicans are the dominant party in Texas, they should not be allowed a disproportionate number of seats in the State Senate. • In recent elections, top of the ticket Democrats running statewide have averaged receiving approximately 42 percent of the vote, even though many were badly underfunded. • The 12 current Democratic-held seats make up less than 39 percent of the 31 total State Senate seats. 13 Democrats would be just less than 42 percent and politically proportional. Clearly a map providing as many as 13 Democratic State Senate seats would be fair while an 11 or 10 seat map would be grossly unfair. Senate District 10 helps insure regional fairness The North Texas region, and Fort Worth in particular, would be harmed if SD10 is dismantled. • SD10 is the only Fort Worth-based Senate district. Fort Worth is the fifth largest city in Texas and would become the only one of the five without a dedicated Senate district. • SD10 is the only district entirely contained within Tarrant County, even though the County’s population justifies having two Senate districts contained entirely within it.

Senate District 10 – Fast Facts Like the rest of Texas, Senate District 10 has increased in population over the last decade. What’s more, the district has become even more racially diverse. In fact, in SD10, minorities now make up over 50 percent of the population. The diverse neighborhoods that make up Senate District 10 comprise a unique and important community of shared interests that collectively express the views, concerns and interests of minority voters. Breaking these neighborhoods apart would not only undermine this important community of interest, but would undermine legally protected minority voting strength.

Protect Fort Worth and Tarrant County Influence •

The new census numbers show that Senate District 10 is growing and needs few changes to meet the new census requirements. We want and deserve to keep our District representing Fort Worth and entirely within Tarrant County.

•

Fort Worth is the fifth largest City in Texas. The other four cities have at least one district dedicated to representing their interests. Fort Worth deserves a Senator as well.

•

SD 10 has a vibrant business community, dedicated neighborhood associations and significant social and humanitarian needs and should to be kept together so these needs can be met.

Senate District 10 is located in Tarrant County Texas and contains much of the city of Fort Worth. When Senate District 10 was drawn ten years ago, its population was 704,888. The population is now 834,265. The ideal population for a Senate District in 2012 will be 811,147. This means the legislature can choose to reconfigure SD10 by making relatively modest changes in the district. There are over 1.8 million residents in Tarrant County, more than 740,000 in Fort Worth and more than 365,000 in Arlington. Senate District 10 is the only State Senate District wholly contained within Tarrant County and the only Senate District where the City of Fort Worth is the largest population center. The citizens of Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield need a Senator who is focused on their needs and not the needs of voters who live near Waco or on the Oklahoma borders. Senate District 10 is a cohesive community that needs to be protected.

Senate District 10 is a Voting Rights Act-Protected Effective District •

The 2010 Census confirms that Senate District 10 is now more than 50% minority.

•

In Senate District 10, Hispanic and African-American voters join with like-minded Anglos to elect the candidate of their choice – like our Senator Wendy Davis. Any changes that reduce the minority voting strength in SD 10 will risk violating the Voting Rights Act

• Senate District 10 is made up of racially diverse neighborhoods that work to solve problems. Tearing apart our neighborhoods will destroy a wonderful community of interest AND will undermine the effectiveness of minority voters.