Gov. Abbott known as for a session on redrawing boundaries following a letter from the DOJ on ‘unconstitutional’ districts.
The Texas Home of Representatives on July 24 took up a request by the Division of Justice (DOJ) to redraw congressional district boundaries throughout a particular session.
The DOJ expressed considerations in a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott about how some districts within the Lone Star State are drawn.
This contains considerations that some districts could also be drawn on the premise of racial demographics and thus be unlawful beneath the Voting Rights Act.
Following the DOJ’s letter, Abbott requested Congress to handle a doable mid-decade changeup, together with a number of different points.
The push to redraw the congressional map forward of the 2030 census has prompted pushback by Democrats within the state Legislature, who’ve threatened filibusters, walkouts, and different acts of opposition to the invoice.
President Donald Trump on July 15 expressed hope that Republicans could possibly choose up as many as 5 seats by way of a “simple redrawing.”
That might assist Trump keep away from the midterm losses which have outlined many presidents’ second and sixth years in workplace.
Nevertheless, the technique doesn’t come with out its dangers—in the event that they miscalculate, Republicans might find yourself shedding seats.
Right here’s what to know.
DOJ Claims
A July 7 letter to Abbott from the DOJ mentioned that 4 congressional districts within the Houston and Dallas metro areas—the Ninth, the 18th, the twenty ninth, and the thirty third districts—had been racially gerrymandered through the redistricting following the 2020 census.
All 4 of the majority-minority districts are presently represented by Democrats.
Particularly, the DOJ mentioned the listed districts are presently seen as “coalition districts” and subsequently unconstitutional beneath the Voting Rights Act.
A “coalition district” is also called a minority coalition district.
Which means that two or extra racial minority teams, none of which make up a majority, type a majority inhabitants for the district and vote collectively to elect the candidate of their selection.
The division cited a 2023 Supreme Courtroom determination in Allen v. Milligan, the place Justice Brett Kavanaugh famous that “even if Congress in 1982 could constitutionally authorize race-based redistricting … the authority to conduct race-based redistricting cannot extend indefinitely into the future.”
The letter went on to say that if the state allowed considerations of race to issue into the redistricting, “the state of Texas must demonstrate a compelling state interest to survive strict scrutiny.”
On July 9, Abbott despatched a letter to the state Home calling for a particular session, beginning on July 21, that will final for 30 days.
Among the many many legislative gadgets being thought of through the session, he cited “constitutional concerns” introduced by the DOJ for redrawing the maps.
Republicans have mentioned they plan for the ultimate product handed through the session to adjust to the legislation.
Through the debate on the redistricting course of, Republican state Sen. Phil King mentioned, “I have the highest level of confidence that we’re not going to pass a bill out of the committee or off this floor that violates the Voting Rights Act.”
Timing Attracts Questions
State congressional redistricting is just required each 10 years, as soon as the U.S. Census outcomes present up to date residential knowledge; nonetheless, mid-decade redistricting is often undertaken, sometimes because of a change in political energy steadiness.
On this case, the letter from the DOJ requested Texas’s elected officers to think about doable unlawful districts that needs to be restructured, following the 2021 district adjustments.
Michael Li, a redistricting professional at New York College’s Brennan Middle for Justice, known as this effort “totally unprecedented” as a result of the map was created whereas the identical get together that’s now in energy through the redrawing was in energy.
“I can’t think of another situation where the party got what it wanted, did very well, and then decided to redraw its own map,” Li mentioned.
When the Texas GOP redrew the map in 2021, the get together sought to maximise Republicans’ management of the state’s 38 Home seats.
Presently, 25 of those seats are held by Republicans, and the opposite 12 by Democrats. One seat is vacant because of the loss of life of the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner.
There’s some concern {that a} change within the map might backfire for Republicans, who might lose districts if extra Democratic voters are unfold to what are presently Republican-majority districts.
Democrat Pushback
Democrats have stood staunchly in opposition to the change, regardless of being outnumbered within the Texas Legislature.
“Democrats are going to keep all options open and will do whatever is necessary to protect our communities,” state Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat, mentioned.
Earlier within the week, Democrat leaders made it identified that they’d make a bodily transfer to dam a doable map redrawing if want be.
Democrats might stroll out of state home periods to disclaim Republicans a quorum to maneuver ahead with the redistricting.
They may additionally try and filibuster laws associated to redistricting, which might require Democrats to talk repeatedly, whereas standing, about points pertinent to the invoice. Such a tactic might delay Republicans, however probably wouldn’t forestall last passage.
Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton has threatened to arrest any lawmakers who try a walkout, on prime of the $500 a day fines a lawmaker faces for breaking a quorum.
Democrats say that the try to alter the maps is an influence seize by Republicans, a sentiment that was echoed by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who spoke through the listening to on July 24.
Castro instructed lawmakers that they had been “being used” and that it could each confuse and encourage different states to redraw their maps.
Different Agenda Gadgets
Whereas congressional redistricting is among the main points the elected representatives will deal with, there are a number of matters on the agenda, together with pure catastrophe warning programs, property taxes, Starr Exams, and different contentious points.
“We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come,” Abbott mentioned when saying the agenda.
“There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future.”
A spokesperson for Abbott, Andrew Mahaleris, didn’t touch upon redistricting in his assertion concerning the particular session.
“While partisan activists focus solely on political issues, Governor Abbott is dedicated to delivering results on issues important to Texans, such as flood relief, property tax cuts, and the elimination of the STAAR test,” he mentioned, referencing standardized testing for Texas college students.
The Home has just some weeks to make a decision on whether or not or to not vote on a brand new map.
Different States’ Plans
Republicans within the state of Ohio are additionally contemplating redrawing their Home maps, and the White Home is wanting towards the chance that a number of different states may make related adjustments.
Nevertheless, not the entire doable adjustments could possibly be advantageous for Republicans.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has voiced the chance that his state might do the identical, even presumably working across the state’s redistricting fee to attract a extra Democrat-friendly map.
Moreover, U.S. Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) says he’s spoken to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul about redistricting their state.
“I’m in conversation with members of the New York delegation, as well as the governor, to explore what, if anything else, can be done to ensure that New York does its part with respect to fair maps across the country,” Jeffries mentioned in a July 21 podcast interview. “And every single state is going to have to do the same thing because Republicans are desperate.”
“What I’m going to say is, all is fair in love and war,” Hochul instructed reporters on July 24, saying she’s “going to see what our options are.”
“If there’s other states that are violating the rules that are going to try and give themselves an advantage, all I’ll say is I’m going to look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.”
Reuters and The Related Press contributed to this report.
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