Minorities stand to lose in Trump's Texas vote map redo

PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s drive to retain control of the US Congress by rewriting the Texas electoral map is playing out in part in a largely Latino, low-income patch of Houston that smells of chemical plants and oil refineries.

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It's called Manchester Park and, for decades, it has been part of District 29, which was firmly held by a Democratic lawmaker.

Now, in the recent redo of the map, with which Trump’s Republicans hope to eke out five new seats to protect their slim majority in Congress, that hold is in jeopardy.

People in Manchester Park live near an oil refinery and endure the pollution it spews, health risks and low-wage jobs as they go about their lives.

Their Democratic representative in Congress, Sylvia Garcia, who has roots in Mexico, is popular: people see her as a champion for their cause.

“She has done a lot for the community. And if they take us out of this district.” said local resident Ludivina Moreno, her voice trailing off.

“We don't know who we are going to get and if they are going to advocate for the community,’ said Moreno, 46, standing in the doorway of her home.