Latino Groups Sue Texas Democratic Party

Eight plaintiffs, including the Texas branch of the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, have filed suit against the Texas Democratic Party, charging that its dual primary/caucus system for selecting presidential delegates discriminates against Hispanics. The suit seeks an injunction preventing the TDP from using the system at its June 6-7 state convention in Austin.

LULAC probably has a good case: It’s pretty hard to argue that Latinos, especially along the border, didn’t get screwed in the presidential race back in March. Sen. Hillary Clinton won the primary portion of the contest, taking 51% of the Texas vote (and 65 of the 126 delegates decided by that vote), largely on her strength in those border counties. But 67 more delegates were up for grabs in the caucuses held later that night.

Apportionment of those latter delegates among senatorial Districts is weighted according to votes cast for the Democratic nominee (Chris Bell) in the 2006 gubernatorial election. And since turnout along the border was light in that election, those heavy-Hispanic regions got the shaft this time around, with a delegate count that did not reflect their increased 2008 primary turnout. That could ultimately lead to Clinton losing Texas. Although the final delegate count won’t be determined until the state convention, current estimates from the caucuses seem to indicate that her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, who was stronger in urban areas, will end up with get a slight edge overall.

A PDF of the suit is available here.