Texas House approves redistricting maps

The Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the state’s redistricting maps after several hours of debate.

In an 88-52 vote, Republican representatives in the state successfully pushed through the new redistricting maps, which are poised to add five additional U.S. House seats to the GOP despite pushback from Democrats, according to the Texas Tribune. Voting along party lines, the approval from the Texas House is the first step for Republicans to implement the new maps, as they still need to be approved by the Senate and signed by Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Chaos erupted between Texas Democrats and Republicans in July after the GOP unveiled the maps, prompting dozens of Democrats to flee the state in an effort to block a vote. While leaving for blue states like Illinois, Democrats faced backlash from Republicans as the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton warned lawmakers they could face arrest if they didn’t return.

After an over two-week standoff, the Democrats who had fled returned to Texas on Monday, claiming they had at least succeeded in derailing the first special session.

The debate between Republicans and Democrats in the state House began early Wednesday morning, with some Democrats claiming the push for the maps from President Donald Trump is due to not wanting remaining files on deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein to be released, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“At the same time he’s demanding Abbott ram through racist maps, he’s making sure Congressional Republicans block the release of files that could expose his decades-long relationship with a child sex trafficker,” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Wu said, according to the outlet. “This amendment forces Republicans to choose between their loyalty to Trump and their obligation to expose sexual predators.”

Tensions throughout the debate additionally increased, with a spar breaking out between Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins and Republican Rep. Todd Hunter, the author of the redistricting bill, according to the Houston Chronicle. While Gervin-Hawkins attempted to voice concerns over the Texas Legislative Black Caucus potentially losing two seats, Hunter called out how the party’s lawmakers had left.

“You want to be fair. Let me finish,” Hunter said, according to the outlet. “You opened up the questions. You own the walkout, you said you did that. But don’t come into this body and say we didn’t include you. You left us for 18 days, and that’s wrong.”

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Abbott said he expected the new maps to head to his desk to be signed into law by the end of the week.

With the redistricting maps causing Democratic lawmakers from various states to speak out, California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced his own state’s gerrymandering campaign on Thursday in response to Texas. The push from Newsom and state Democrats aims to remove about six Republicans from California’s House delegation, transferring redistricting authority from the independent commission to the state Legislature.

Texas’ redistricting maps are expected to head to the state Senate for a vote on Aug. 21 and potentially reach Abbott’s desk by the end of the week, according to The New York Times.

All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline, and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!