In a move from the Republican-controlled Texas legislature that's bound to be challenged, maps to redraw Congressional districts to favor them and harm minority voters were approved after being rushed through to minimize public comment. From the Associated Press:
"Texas Republicans approved redrawn U.S. House maps that favor incumbents and decrease political representation for growing minority communities, even as Latinos drive much of the growth in the nation’s largest red state.
The maps were approved late Monday night following outcry from Democrats over what they claimed was a rushed redistricting process crammed into a 30-day session, and one which gave little time for public input. They also denounced the reduction of minority opportunity districts -- Texas will now have seven House districts where Latino residents hold a majority, down from eight -- despite the state’s changing demographics." (our emphasis)
Texas Republicans see that their best chance of retaining their grip on power is to choose the electorate, rather than the reverse. They're doing that by gerrymandering districts, and by imposing onerous voter suppression laws. Civil rights groups have already filed suit to stop the discriminatory gerrymandering. Over the years, Texas has been taken to court multiple times for drawing Congressional districts to increase their chances of success and to under represent minority -- mainly Latino -- voters who traditionally vote for Democrats. The challenges to Texas' redrawing of the districts will almost certainly end up in the Supreme Court, which does not bode well.
