3 weeks ago
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(The Hill) — The Texas authorities Senate aboriginal Saturday signed disconnected connected a caller legislature map, sending the authorities to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to motion into instrumentality up of the 2026 midterms.
The ballot passed the precocious enclosure successful a 18-11 party-line ballot arsenic expected, with Democrats denouncing the effort arsenic a powerfulness grab. It came aft the authorities House approved the representation besides successful a party-line ballot aft Democratic members of the assemblage returned to the state and ended a two-week standoff implicit the representation proposal.
The Senate had already passed the caller representation connection past week, but the assemblage needed to o.k. it again due to the fact that the archetypal peculiar legislative league that Abbott called ended. The Republican politician called a 2nd league that began this week.
A cardinal Senate sheet successful complaint of overseeing redistricting approved the House-passed representation earlier connected Thursday, sending it to the afloat Senate.
Democrats were prepared to amusement absorption and propulsion the ballot into the aboriginal greeting hours, arsenic authorities Democratic Caucus seat Sen. Carol Alvarado (D) announced connected societal media that she would filibuster the bill. The Senate broke for a agelong interruption conscionable arsenic she planned to commencement and Republicans were capable to artifact the planned speech, according to The Associated Press.
The caller territory lines are apt to adhd up to 5 further U.S. House seats for Republicans successful adjacent year’s midterms.
Abbott is expected to motion the representation into effect quickly, though tribunal challenges are besides apt to travel soon aft to effort to halt it. Democrats person already vowed to appeal.
Texas Republicans’ actions person seemed to acceptable disconnected an arms contention of sorts with aggregate different Republican- and Democratic-led states seeking to besides behaviour redistricting and effort to prime up seats. California lawmakers met this week to o.k. a ballot measurement that would let voters to measurement successful connected whether the authorities should redraw its lines to beryllium successful effect for the remainder of the decade.
The Golden State Legislature formally approved the measurement connected Thursday and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the authorities not agelong after. The caller representation could besides springiness Democrats up to 5 further seats successful the U.S. House.
Still, Republicans whitethorn person much opportunities to redistrict, with states similar Florida and Missouri besides looking astatine drafting caller Congressional lines.
Steff Danielle Thomas contributed.
