One Expert's Take on State's Redistricting. And: DISD's About to Begin Drawing Its New Lines.

​Speaking of redistricting ...

Had an awfully long talk with Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey this afternoon, which I'd post now if she didn't mention a few things worth tracking down. So that'll have to wait till tomorrow. But while we're on the subject, I see here that Nate Silver and redistricting expert David Wasserman of The Cook Political Report done Q&A'd the chopping-up of some "pivotal states and districts," Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth among their topics of conversation.

We got Houston Chronicle Washington bureau chief Rick Dunham's take on PlanC125 a few weeks ago. But here's where Wasserman comes down on the more recent PlanC182:

In Texas, Republicans really are placing a gamble on the Dallas-Fort Worth. In their initial draft, they unexpectedly chose not to draw a new Hispanic-majority district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which would have shored up -- some would use the term "bleached" -- surrounding districts such as the one held by Pete Sessions (Texas's 32nd), which is now plurality Hispanic in North Dallas. Instead they chose to draw a new Republican-leaning district in that area. That could blow up over the next 10 years as the area does become more Hispanic. But in their calculation they figure that they might as well gamble for that new seat instead of simply ceding it. Democrats are hoping that the dam ultimately breaks there.

In other redistricting news, I see the Dallas Independent School District board will also take up the subject on Thursday -- its first real public chitchat about redrawing trustees' boundaries. I asked DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander for a sneak preview, and he responds thusly via e-mail:

Regarding redistricting, the agenda is fairly open-ended. The board has retained outside legal counsel on this and so there is the possibility that they could discuss this for a bit. At the same time, they do need to begin the process by approving some things required by statute.