EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Texas Senate approved a new congressional map early Saturday morning, Aug. 23, culminating nearly a month of partisan fighting and controversy.
The Senate adopted the new map on a party-line vote of 18-11, just after 12:30 a.m. Saturday Central Time, according to the Texas Tribune. The Senate vote happened after what were described as eight hours of tense debate
Now, the new map will go to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. Abbott is expected to quickly sign the bill.
Democrats had fought the plan for weeks, with more than 50 House Democrats leaving the state for two weeks to break quorum in the first special session. These Democrats traveled to states like Illinois, New York and California to rally other Democrats to the cause and make the case against redistricting nationally.
House Democrats returned this week for the second special session called by Abbott.
The House passed the controversial bill earlier this week and the Senate then passed it early Saturday morning.
Democrats say the plan has been dictated from Washington by President Trump and will greatly dilute the voting power of Hispanics and Blacks in the state.
They say their next step is to challenge the map in the courts.
State Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-Texas, opposed the bill and sent a statement out to media Saturday morning.
“Mid-decade redistricting, absent a court order, breaks the rules our nation’s Founders enshrined in our Constitution to protect the people from abuse of power. The Constitution is not a suggestion; it is the foundation of our democracy. If the rules of representation can be rewritten whenever politically convenient, then stability is lost, fairness is abandoned, and the people’s faith in democracy itself is shaken.
“These maps were drawn so politicians can pick their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. Latino and Blacks make up 52% of Texas voters, and the rapid growth of these populations is the reason Texas gained new congressional seats. But these maps shut us out. They slice up our neighborhoods, weaken our voice, and deny our communities of color fair representation. When that happens, we lose resources, we lose influence, and we lose accountability. That’s not democracy, that’s disenfranchisement.”
Blanco said that Texas Democrats have spread the word to other states who are taking up the fight. Blanco cited California which is planning on doing its own redistricting to counter Republican efforts to gain more seats in the U.S. House.
“What began in Texas sparked a fire that’s spreading across the country: ordinary people standing up and demanding fair maps and fair representation,” he said.
Blanco also said that once the governor signs the bill, the new map will be challenged in the courts.
“These fights aren’t over. They’re just beginning,” Blanco said. “I look forward to this fight continuing in the courts.”
Read: Read More