Texas House advances GOP-friendly map after weeks of Dem resistance

The Texas state House passed a new set of GOP-friendly congressional lines in a key preliminary vote on Wednesday, putting the party one step closer toward adopting a new map that sparked a redistricting arms race across the country.

The lower chamber approved the new maps on party lines, 88-52, in the first of two key votes. The final passage of the map in the House is expected to take place later Wednesday.

Its likely passage marks a key victory for Republicans, who were called into a second special session by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) after efforts to pass their House map stalled during their first 30-day session, during which Democrats fled the state in protest. The state Senate will next need to pass the map before it heads to Abbott's desk for his signature.

Republicans faced pressure from the White House earlier this year to do mid-decade redistricting as the party braces for a challenging political environment next year. The president’s party traditionally faces headwinds during midterm cycles. President Trump on Tuesday urged Texas Republicans to move swiftly and pass the new congressional lines.

Redistricting, which was not initially included on Abbott’s call for a special session, was later added. Republicans sought to quickly pass a new map during their first special session, but Democrats fled the state to block the GOP from having a quorum — or the minimum number of lawmakers needed in order to do business. 

Texas Democrats rallied in California, New York, Illinois and Massachusetts, drawing national attention over the issue and drawing criticism from Republicans who argued Democrats were being hypocritical about gerrymandering given several of those states also have gerrymandered maps.

The redistricting battle prompted California to move forward with introducing their own set of gerrymandered congressional lines in an effort to neutralize expected gains out of Texas with their anticipated new map. A number of red and blue states could also see new House maps, including Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and New York.

Earlier this week, Democrats returned to Texas during the second special session, where the passage of a new House map was all but inevitable.

Democratic-aligned and civil rights groups are already getting ready to challenge Texas’s maps, while Republicans are seeking to stop California from passing a new House map through a ballot initiative in November.

Republicans currently hold 25 House seats in the Lone Star State, while Democrats hold 12, with one seat vacant after the late Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas) died in March. The new map would give the GOP the opportunity to increase their congressional delegation to 30.