Texas Home Democrats introduced Thursday they’ll solely return to Austin for the Texas Legislature’s second particular session when California begins their very own redistricting course of.
“Trump thought he may simply get his approach in Texas with compliant Republicans, however Democrats fought again ferociously and took the struggle to Trump throughout America,” stated Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, who chairs the Texas Home Democratic Caucus.
The transfer to redraw congressional districts mid-decade is going down throughout the nation, sparked by President Donald Trump’s indication he needed Texas to create as many as 5 new Republican districts within the Lone Star State.
Earlier this afternoon, California, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders introduced their very own plan to redraw the state’s congressional maps. The transfer is a direct response to Republican-led redistricting in Texas.
“We are able to’t stand again and watch this democracy disappear district by district,” stated Newsom in a Thursday press convention. Earlier this week, the governor stated his state’s new congressional maps “will finish the Trump presidency” and permit Democrats to “take again the Home.”
The Golden State is scheduled to renew their legislative session on Monday, August 18. Lawmakers can have till August 22 to position a redistricting measure on the state’s November poll.
Again in Texas, the legislature is predicted to shut out its first particular session on Friday — and shortly start the second.
In response to Newsom asserting California’s plan to redistrict, Allen Republican Rep. Jeff Leach posted on social media that the Texas Home “ought to take up and cross the map that offers us 9-10 seats.”
Leach additionally stated Republicans ought to look into redrawing the state’s Home and Senate maps in the course of the second particular session as properly.
Texas Democratic Social gathering chair Kendall Scudder informed The Texas Newsroom that, whereas Democrats don’t wish to redistrict nationally, he additionally agrees the social gathering has no selection at this level.
“Democrats are uninterested in enjoying by one algorithm, whereas Republicans play by one other,” Scudder stated. “We’re not going to take a seat apart and permit them to do mid-cycle redistricting.”
