1984 Texas Senate election

Democrats had controlled the Texas Senate since the 1872 elections.^[1] The Legislature passed redistricting bills in 1981, but Republican governor Bill Clements vetoed the state Senate map. The Legislative Redistricting Board, made up entirely of Democrats, was then tasked with drawing the map for the chamber. Despite this partisan unanimity, stark divisions came about on the Board due to each member's own goals, ranging from incumbency protection to the expansion of minority representation. Each member's potential gubernatorial ambitions also underscored the debate. The Board eventually passed a map in a 4–1 vote, with Comptroller Bob Bullock dissenting.^[2]

The Senate maps passed by the Board were challenged by a lawsuit in Terrazas v. Clements.^[3] Additionally, the Justice Department blocked both maps for violating the Voting Rights Act.^[4] Given the imminence of the March primary, the courts allowed the maps to be used for the 1982 elections.^[5] In 1983, the legislature adopted a modified version of the court's map. They addressed objections from the Justice Department and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, changing eight Senate districts but avoiding a full redrawing, which would have necessitated re-electing all senators. The courts approved the plan.^[6][7]