Tom DeLay drives Texas mid-decade redistricting, shifting delegation from 17-15 Democratic to 21-11 Republican

Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed a new congressional map on Oct. 9, 2003, after Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay orchestrated a mid-decade redistricting following Republicans' 2002 takeover of the state legislature. The new map replaced court-drawn districts and produced a six-seat Republican gain in the 2004 elections. Fifty-two Democratic House members had fled the state to break quorum before Perry called special sessions that succeeded.