Houston City Council sued by Hispanic group over lack of Latino representation

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston on Monday calling for the dismantling of five at-large council positions at City Hall, claiming the posts dilute the local Hispanic vote and don't provide the 16-member body with equitable representation.

According to the complaint, the lawsuit aims to change the at-large council positions to single-member district seats by implementing a system where voters nominate a candidate based on a geographic area instead of through a citywide vote. Out of the City’s 16-member body, 11 seats are district oriented, while five are at-large positions.

Such a shift would result in a council makeup more representative of the Houston population, 45 percent of whom identify as Hispanic, according to 2021 U.S. Census data. Currently, the lone Hispanic representative on the council is District I Councilmember Robert Gallegos, which translates to a council that is 6.5 percent Hispanic.

“We need more equitable representation at a time when Latinos are building Houston with our labor, and our businesses are pumping in millions in tax dollars,” LULAC redistricting chair Sergio Lira said in a statement. “Making this change is not a favor, rather a right we have earned. LULAC is here to claim that right and trusts that the federal court will agree.” 

LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic organization in the U.S. and focuses on advancing education, housing, economic opportunities, and equity for the Hispanic community, according to its website. 

Compared to other metropolitan cities in Texas, including Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, Houston is the only city with at-large city council seats. 
Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office is set to release a statement soon after reviewing the lawsuit with the city’s legal department.