By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nationwide battle over congressional maps in Texas is heating up yet again.
Texas Republicans are poised to pass a new map that redraws a handful of the state’s 38 congressional districts. The new map would create several Republican-leaning districts — and Democrats in blue states are preparing their counter move.
Many Democratic lawmakers in Texas who fled the state returned to Austin on Monday, allowing the Republican-controlled House to convene a special session to consider the maps.
“We are done waiting. We have a quorum. Now is the time for action,” said Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-TX), Speaker of the Texas House.
Upon their return to Austin, several Democrats were greeted with round-the-clock police escorts and some refused to leave, in order to avoid the escort — as Republicans sought to ensure their attendance to convene a second special session.
Republicans control Austin, and lawmakers from both parties expect the new maps to pass the House as early as Wednesday. The new Texas maps could become law in a matter of days, and Democrats in blue states say they’re ready to “fight fire with fire.”
“California will move if Texas moves,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Calif.).
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, California Democrats are fast-tracking a bill to put redrawn congressional maps on the ballot in November — maps that have been drawn for Democrats to pick up five additional congressional seats, the same number the proposed map in Texas would give Republicans.
“President Trump knows that his reckless policies are going to come back to haunt him in the midterms,” said McGuire. “He has to cheat to win.”
“Donald Trump knows that his rating is underwater — he’s at 40% in the latest polls. And the president’s party usually loses seats in the House of Representatives during the first midterm election. This is an attempt by the president and his allies to try to get some more seats so they don’t lose control of the House,” said Dr. Todd Belt, professor and director of the Political Management Master’s Program at George Washington University.
“Every action has a reaction and the Democrats, led by Gavin Newsom in California, are going to try to do the same thing,” Belt added.
Belt said the next 48 hours will be critical as states watch closely to see how the showdown between Texas and California plays out.
“I think other states are waiting to see how this shakes out first, to see if they want to enter the fray,” he said.
Redistricting is often a once-a-decade process that follows the U.S. Census. Mid-decade redistricting efforts do occur, but often due to court orders or intervention.
“We really don’t see any redrawing mid-cycle unless it’s ordered by the Supreme Court or the state Supreme Court because of any sort of wrongdoing, particularly in regards to violations of civil rights,” Belt said. “This is a time when it’s only being done for pure political, bare-knuckle politics and this is where we are now.”
