In a major escalation of the Texas gerrymandering plan, a Republican-controlled Texas House panel has advanced a redrawn congressional map aimed at flipping five Democratic House seats. The full House is expected to vote next week—but Democrats may walk out to prevent a quorum and stop the map.
The vote followed a tense 15-hour public hearing on Friday, during which most testimony strongly opposed the proposed changes. The redistricting plan affects key urban districts in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and along the U.S.-Mexico border—areas heavily populated by Black and Hispanic voters.
Democratic lawmakers warned that the texas gerrymandering plan could weaken minority voting power in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Al Green of Houston labeled the new map “racist,” while Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas pledged to fight the plan in court immediately.
Despite national backlash, Republicans say the new map solidifies their majority. But as the texas gerrymandering plan advances, legal and political battles are just beginning.
