Houston most Hispanic part of country without Hispanic in Congress

*Something to consider about this story: Latinos are 75 percent of the population in the most Latino district in Houston, Texas. But only half are registered to vote. VL

By Theodore Schleifer, Houston Chronicle

Houston Hispanics had a reason to celebrate. They had won.

After decades of rapid growth in the local Latino population, Texas legislators had set up a new congressional district to elect someone from their community to Congress. The 29th congressional district, local Hispanic leaders said in August 1991, would send new breeds of Americans to Congress. 

“Today is a very, very historic day,” said Rep. Roman Martinez, a Houston Democrat who crafted the district in the House. “It is a plan that would elect a Hispanic to Congress for the very first time ever in Harris County.”

Except it didn’t happen.

Two decades after local political leaders thought they had solved the demographic puzzle with a new “opportunity district” that is today three-quarters Latino, no Hispanic has represented it.

Click HERE to read the full story.

[Photo by Christian Rein/Flickr]

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