Republicans in Texas on Saturday evening have closed in on redrawn U.S. House maps. This would at least bring in some support to their declining authority as voters may well seem to veer away from the GOP within the Lone Star State’s booming suburbs.
Gave Texas GOP some breathing room
In a key vote late Saturday evening, the Republicans provided an early sign-off to new congressional boundaries that are said to provide them some much-needed space. According to the Associated Press, this after some close calls back in 2018 and 2020 as they are also opening a new path for the GOP along the border with Mexico.
The Democrats, on the other hand, have criticized the maps for several hours, deeming it as discriminatory, adding that it’s as if the maps are blind to Texas’ increasing Hispanic populace. The majority of them reside within the vicinity of Dallas and Houston, where according to the Republican-engineered maps, there would be no new district that would Latinos a majority.
Presiding over the redrawn maps within the Texas House was Republican state Representative Todd Hunter as he justified such tweaks stating that the changes comply with existing laws.
Despite the lengthy talks, the maps will still require final negotiations between the House and Senate in the following days before it is relayed to Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), who is expected to sign them.
Threat to Latino and Black communities’ political influence
Further, it is believed that the redrawn congressional districts would make it easier for incumbent officials to have a tighter grip on their positions. Nonetheless, political pundits pointed out that these would also serve as a threat to the political influence of both Latino and Black communities, even as those voters propel the Lone Star State’s progress.
The new lines, which is the result of a once-in-a-decade redistricting procedure, have created a couple of new districts and made some less competitive for GOP lawmakers.
Texas was the only state to secure a couple more congressional seats following last year’s census for the uninitiated. This revealed that people of color accounted for more than nine of 10 new residents in the state.
According to Democratic state Representative Rafael Anchia, race is a prominent factor in this, adding that it’s not partisanship but race.
