Obama backs California's response to Texas redistricting
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California Democrats' ability to do so may hinge on the outcome of a ballot measure Newsom announced last week that would allow a new map drafted by legislators to temporarily replace the boundaries drawn up by the state's independent redistricting committee following the 2020 census.
The Texas House of Representatives gave final passage on Wednesday to House Bill 4, a controversial Republican-backed proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps and potentially add up to five new GOP-leaning districts.
Facing opposition from Democrats who fled the state to stall the vote, Republicans hope the new maps will lead to more seats in Congress.
California Democrats are making moves to put a ballot measure pushing pro-Democratic maps before voters this fall. Other Republican-controlled states are looking at redraws, too.
Follow here for the latest updates as the Texas House debates President Donald Trump's plan to gerrymander five new GOP congressional seats in the state.
California voters backed independent redistricting for congressional seats and giving it up to counter President Trump creates a moral conflict even for Democrats.
After Democrats returned to the Texas statehouse, Republican leadership assigned law enforcement officers to monitor them to prevent further delays to their plan to redraw congressional voting districts to favor Republicans ahead of the election.
The court said the petitioners “failed to meet their burden of establishing a basis for relief at this time” under the state’s constitution.
Conservative opponents dominated the public comment at legislative hearings on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting plan, though most were at the Capitol for an unrelated rally.