In summer 2025, the Texas Legislature took up a redistricting plan that would have made Texas Hispanics the most underrepresented population group of any group in any of the fifty states. Here's how we fought back.
"Under the new Texas map, one Hispanic Texan carries one-third the political weight of one white Texan — and one Black Texan one-fifth."
Under HB 4, white Texans would receive one member of Congress for every 445,000 residents. For Hispanic Texans, it would take 1.4 million. For Black Texans, 2 million. That means under the proposed lines, one Hispanic Texan carries roughly one-third the political weight of one white Texan, and one Black Texan one-fifth.
Today, Hispanic and white Texans each make up about 40% of the state's population. Equal in number. Yet under HB 4, 26 of the 38 congressional districts — 70% of the delegation — would be controlled by white-majority districts. Forty-five years ago, Anglo Texans made up 66% of the state. Today they are 40%. The map freezes white political control as though nothing has changed in 50 years.
Vince and his House Democratic colleagues broke quorum to deny the supermajority the votes they needed to ram the map through. The chamber froze. The national press woke up.
Vince and other members named in the warrant kept making the case — to constituents, to colleagues, and to the public. The cost of standing in the way was real. So was the principle.
Vince and four Texas colleagues flew to California to meet with Governor Gavin Newsom and federal and state leaders — building the national coalition the fight required.
When the House reconvened, Vince delivered floor remarks against HB 4 that took the map apart line by line — and named the racial math the bill's sponsors refused to.
"Partisanship is not a license to engage in racial discrimination. Courts have made clear: partisanship is not a license to engage in racial discrimination."
"There are enough Hispanic Texans in this state that every single one of us — all 150 members — could represent a district that is at least 40% Hispanic. Yet 82% of your caucus does not represent a Hispanic population that reflects the reality of this state."
"We have not seen a map so deliberately engineered by skin color since the days when Americans marched from Selma to Montgomery."
"Under these lines, Texas Hispanics will be the most underrepresented population group in all 50 states. This level of underrepresentation exceeds what even conservative courts have struck down in Louisiana, Alabama, and just yesterday, Mississippi."
"We all took an oath to uphold the Constitution — not to flagrantly violate it or test its limits."