After Census officials have determined which states gained and lost population over the course of the last decade, congressional districts will be reallocated. States which grew in large numbers will add seats, while states which shrunk will lose them.

For some time, demographers have predicted that Texas will gain seats. The question now is how many.

Some experts -- like William Frey from the Brookings Institution -- now believe that refugees from Hurricane Katrina could tip the balance for the state:

Demographers predict Texas will add at least three new districts, and the evacuees who stayed after the 2005 storm – experts estimate between 50,000 and 100,000 did so – could provide the margin for a fourth seat.

That news makes this set of legislative races in Texas even more important. Republicans hold a slim one-seat majority in the House of Representatives, but if they retain control of the legislature, they'll have a significant advantage when it comes time to draw the new lines for the state's Congressional districts.

Democrats have an all too fresh reminder of how Republicans will approach redistricting if they control every lever of power. In 2003, the GOP -- led by Tom Delay -- forced through a controversial mid-decade plan that reduced Democratic Congressional seats in the state from 15 to 11.

We can't let them do that again. After this election, we must have a seat at the table.