Manuel A. Benavidez v. Irving Independent School District, et al.

The Storefront represented Manuel Benavidez, a Mexican-American, in a lawsuit against the Irving Independent School District Board.

Plaintiff Manuel Benavidez, a Mexican-American who had unsuccessfully run for the Irving Independent School District board, challenged the district’s 5-2 election system. The district used an election system with five single-member districts and two at-large seats.

Following a three-day bench trial in July 2014, the court ruled that the Irving Independent School District’s system of electing school board trustees violated the Voting Rights Act and denied fair representation to Latino voters. Irving ISD then voted to convert to an election system with seven single-member districts, including a Hispanic “opportunity” district comprised of a majority of Hispanic eligible voters. The case captured national attention, as The Wall Street Journal reported it represented a blueprint for Latinos seeking greater political representation.