Anyway, no, I was not completely serious with this post. Is this scenario possible? Yes, as there is the right granted to the state of Texas to divide itself, and yes, theoretically the states carved out of Texas would be entitled to 2 senators each, and that could tip the balance of power.

Do I seriously think that would ever happen? NO!!! From living in Texas for almost 8 years now, I can tell you Texans are a very proud people, as if you couldn’t figure it out from the fact that within 2 miles of crossing the border from Louisiana on I-10 they just happen to have a sign saying it is 879 miles to El Paso (as if anyone really needs to know El Paso is almost 900 miles away). Texans wouldn’t allow their state to be divided if for nothing else than they wouldn’t be able to brag about how big their state is.

This post was nothing more than an exercise in political theory, kind of like saying if 17 people in line in front of her were taken out the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security would be next in line to become President. Is it possible? Well, according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, yes. Is there any chance the Homeland Security Secretary will ever become President because the 17 people in line before her either died or became incapacitated? Short of the most imaginative scenario, no it isn’t.

Thanks for the good laugh. I just finished up my taxes, so I needed a pick-me-up. GEAUX TIGERS!

BUT

Are you completely off your rocker?

While I agree with probably 80% of your posts until this point, I could not pass this one up without a fight.

Surely you aren’t being serious?
I’m not sure I have ever seen anything so ridiculous on all of the internets.

I just thought you should know. Keep up the otherwise good work!
Jessica

I think either Texas division or secession would make for very entertaining political theater. I think the latter is more likely than the former, but I wouldn’t bet on either unless we see an attack on the 2nd amendment or a combination of changes that directly effect Texas.

While it would be fun–more fun than Texas secession for sure–I don’t think either party is willing to step on that land-mine.

- Houston/Galveston area: Harris county outnumbers every surrounding county to a depth of about two. If, say, there was a state cut out that’s called “Gulf Texas,” covering the border with the Gulf of Mexico down to Mexico itself, that would pull out an almost-certain Democratic majority especially once counties like Willacy, Nueces and Hidalgo are included.

- Big Bend country: With a few exceptions, every county from El Paso to Webb went for the Democrats in either the Presidential election, Senate election or both, and the counties that went blue are some of the highest-population ones in the region. If the western part from Big Bend over to the mountain time zone were lopped off, there would be another Democratic set of senators.

- Central Texas: Bexar and Travis counties also compare to Harris; they’re the largest (population-wise) and they both went Democratic. If a state was drawn that included them (though smart Republican map-drawers–Tom Delay?–would include Austin and Houston in the same area to lessen the damage) and their surrounding neighbors, that’d go Democratic based on the last election.

- Dallas/Fort Worth area: If we drew a state that’s “North Texas,” that state would likely be Republican for the next election but could flip as the Latino population grows larger; for an example, see Dallas County, where Republicans haven’t won a county-wide race this century. Denton and Collin counties are still solidly red, but Tarrant is nearing the tip-over point as well.

The only “100% for sure” areas I see as going Republican in your scenario (which would be FASCINATING, if disastrous for Texas) are the Panhandle, western Hill Country and Piney Woods/East Texas. Fortunately for the map-drawers, those three are some of the least-populated areas and the most staunchly Republican, but unfortunately contain the least amount of population and so would be less likely to be made into a standalone state of their own.

Still, it’s fun to think about.