On Wednesday night (Aug. 20), Republicans within the Texas state legislature voted to advance a extremely controversial redistricting plan to spice up the skinny majority the GOP has in Congress. Shortly afterward, California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul launched temporary statements addressing the transfer, probably setting the stage for their very own redistricting efforts.
Newsom, whose workplace has been busy skewering President Donald Trump on social media, responded to the vote in a publish on X, previously Twitter, merely writing: “It’s on, Texas.”
Hochul, who has been vocal about in search of redrawing district maps in New York to fight GOP efforts, was additionally temporary in her preliminary response to the vote on social media. In her publish on X, previously Twitter, she wrote “Recreation on” whereas sharing a hyperlink from the New York Instances breaking the information.
The vote was 88-52 alongside occasion strains, advancing the map to the state Senate who is anticipated to approve it. The plan for redistricting in Texas has captured the eye of the nation after it was initiated by the state’s governor, Greg Abbott, on the behest of Trump. Redistricting usually takes place each 10 years after the census is accomplished, and Republican efforts in Texas halfway by way of the conventional interval sign a desperation from the GOP to carry onto its majority within the Home of Representatives forward of the midterm elections subsequent yr.
At the moment, there are 219 Republican seats to 212 Democratic seats, with 4 vacancies attributable to retirement and two deaths. These two seats in Arizona and Texas will probably be up for grabs in particular elections within the fall and are in closely blue districts, which may assist Democrats achieve a majority subsequent yr.
The state of affairs turned extremely explosive after Democratic state politicians walked out en masse to stop the redistricting vote from going by way of in Austin, and Newsom and Hochul had been among the many Democratic governors who promised redistricting efforts of their very own if the GOP was profitable. Certainly, on Thursday (Aug. 21), the California state legislature convened to work on a particular referendum for voters within the fall to think about approving the state redrawing maps earlier than 2030. The transfer, if permitted, would give Democrats 5 extra seats within the Home of Representatives.
