There is a great deal of political theatre regarding Texas redistricting including outright lies, threats, and a paralysis of government work.  Instead of the theatre, here is a 3 point plan for redistricting.  It will be hated by the 20% of voters who put party over community on both the left and right. The rest of us that just want to go to work, provide for our families, and grow our communities it is simple and direct.

1.      Adhere to the text of the US Constitution. If you scream about what the Founders intended regarding the 2^nd Amendment (GOP) or what they intended regarding the Due Process Clause (DNC) then you have no choice but to redistrict every 10 years. Period. See  ArtI.S2.C3.1 Enumeration Clause. 

2.      Redistrict according to economic, governmental, and social factors, not on shifting party affiliations. We have more affiliation with each other based on our shopping, work, and culture than we do with parties.  What most Texans are unaware of is that we have overlapping territories of governments and citizens working together ro solve problems and provide for the community. Councils of Governments, foundations, economic development districts, transportation districts, water cooperation, United Ways, disaster planning/response zones, counties, cities, and agricultural zones, etc. already overlap across Texas.  These are groups of paid professionals, volunteers, business leaders, and politicians that work together and see each other on a regular basis.  Wouldn't it just make sense if these groups only had one or two representatives and senators to coordinate solutions for their communities? Now some have 3 or 4 that they have to lobby to ensure services for their communities.  This is duplicative waste of time and energy. Plus it ignores the expertise of local communities and their natural partners. What does a suburb of Austin understand about agriculture and the pressures of rural communities?

3.      The Texas house could appoint a non-partisan commission of demographers, economic, and community experts representing the groups described above to draw lines that unite economies and communities that already work together.  For instance, Waco has a lot more ties with Hill, Bosque, Freestone, Limestone, and Falls than they do with Williamson.  Under one current proposed plan, a section of Williamson would be attached to Waco and have the voting superiority. Who do you think is going to get that Representative's attention? Not Waco and definitely not all of the rural counties that share nothing with Williamson. 

I am keenly aware that neither party would support this plan because it appears to take away power.  In reality, redistricting is just a short term win with zero long term gains.  For instance, the Democratic party's gerrymandering didn't keep Texas Blue.  The Republican gerrymandering in California didn't keep that state red following Regan.  The truth is that another Regan, Trump, Clinton, etc will come along and blow the map apart.  So why keep up the political theatre instead of focusing on the needs of the community: roads, water, utilities, education, and security?

 If your goal is one-party rule it may work for awhile, but I would like to point out that one-party rule is generally communist nations  and dictatorship, not democratic republics or even constitutional monarchies. The Founders' purpose was to ensure effective representation that they were denied by the crown.  At the time they were concerned about the cultural and economic communities of the former colonies. No parties existed in 1789 and the first party wouldn't be formed for another 3 to 4 years.  The DNC wouldn't be formed for another 48 years and the GOP for another 65 years. Again, do we value our nation or our parties more?