Message from Texas independents to Governor Abbott & President Trump: Fix our problems, not our elections.

Message to Abbott and Trump: Fix our problems, not elections

Update, August 14: Since we posted this article on July 24, much has happened as we await another special session to be called by the Governor in a truly stupid redistricting that has the GOP risking shooting itself in the foot. Oh well! Hold on to your hats, folks. Independent Texas voters are about to become THE most critical decision makers in Texas elections.

If you have read this original article starting below, skip down to the end to see the LIV map submitted for us by our very own budget and redistricting nerd, Jeff Harper.

Original Article:

The last three paragraphs of the July 22nd Quorum Report article by Harvey Kronberg on Texas redistricting are illuminating:

"And just to add a little more confusion to the matter, it is worth noting that the 2021 redistricting maps are still under litigation.

It is difficult to see how the current effort at redrawing maps would pass court muster in time for the December filing deadline. An even worse case would be postponing the filing deadline and the March primary, which has historically created additional difficulties for incumbents.

Who knows what the final product will look like, but it is a high-stakes gamble regardless of your political persuasion.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Special Legislative Session started Monday, July 21st. Special Sessions have a shelf life of 30 days. The Governor was reluctant to place redistricting (the ultimate partisan sword) on the "Call" (the session's agenda). Redistricting is not required by law until 2030. Perhaps the Governor knows his job, first and foremost, is to fix our problems. That starts with the unnecessary tragedy on July 4th at Camp Mystic, along the shores of the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country.

But something changed the Governor's mind about placing redistricting on the Call. He received a call from the President. (See Texas Tribune, July 22, report HERE.) Today, Democrats (and we're guessing some quiet Republicans) are arguing that the 30-day special session should be dedicated to solving our most immediate problems that the Legislature failed to do in the 2025 regular session -- dealing with the state's flooding and disaster threats and relief.

LIV supports the Texas House Democrats letter urging "Speaker Burrows, we call on you to join Texas House Democrats and stand in solidarity with Texans devastated by the July 4th floods by putting flood response first—before any other business."

We also implore Texas House Republicans to join the Democrats and end the partisan bloodbathing that has us -- regular Texans -- in their two-party crossfire.

LIV has submitted a map under Jeff Harper's name. More soon as citizens are finally getting involved in map drawing!

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Read the entire July 22 Quorum Report article here,

This is the LIV approved map, listed under Jeff Harper's name. Thank you, Jeff! To view the maps start here: https://tlc.texas.gov/redistricting, then go to DistrictViewer, then Congress, then to the plans submitted by the public. You can open and view the maps in great detail.

LIV Map:

We believe the LIV map is the best, but redistricting will always be a weapon if we allow politicians to pick their voters.