And after weeks of delays, the Texas House gave back into session today, finally voting on Governor Abbott's controversial redistricting plan. And in a shock to a lot of people, but not at all a surprise. His new congressional maps just passed, which could add five Republican seats to the US Congress.And let's bring in NBC's Ryan Chandler. What's the latest. Democrats, they didn't have the votes to block this.What's the next game plan for them. So, we expect this to get to the governor's desk very quickly. ...

Political Context & Redistricting - Texas Republicans are accused of manipulating congressional maps to steal five seats, silencing American voices [7] - The redistricting plan aims to improve Republican political performance, potentially leading to Republican wins in newly drawn districts [23] - Critics argue the redistricting is racial gerrymandering, diluting racial growth and population in the state [26][27] - Polling indicates approximately 70% oppose gerrymandering [12] Democratic Response & Legal Challenges - Texas Democrats are fighting back against the "racist rigged maps" and will challenge them in court [7][19] - Democrats are poised to make up for the five seats potentially stolen in Texas with gains nationwide [16][17] - California is stepping up to support the fight against the redistricting [21][22] Concerns over Democratic Processes - Concerns are raised about the erosion of checks and balances in Texas, with a governor able to shut down an entire party [10] - Republican legislators are accused of gross behavior and stealing an election [3] - Texas State Representatives are being detained by police, restricting their ability to perform their duties [5][9]

Want to get back to a story that we have been following. The Texas House voting to officially pass the state's controversial uh redistricting plan proposed by the governor to add five more GOP congressional seats for the 2026 midterms. Once it passes any minute now, um it's still not a done deal yet.The bill now goes to the Texas Senate before heading to the governor's desk uh to sign into law. Want to get right to Ryan Chandler who's been standing by for us at the state capital. And this thing has been dra ...

Texas lawmakers approve redistricting map favouring Republicans https://t.co/z5IZlzCwFU ...

Redistricting and Political Maneuvering - The report highlights the Republican Party's efforts to redraw district maps in Texas to gain more seats in Congress, a move described as partisan gerrymandering [1][17] - Texas Democrats' actions, such as leaving the state to prevent a quorum, are portrayed as a fight to save democracy and raise national awareness [2][4][24] - California Democrats are responding to the Texas redistricting plan with their own redistricting plan, putting it on the ballot for voters [11] Threats to Democracy and Electoral Integrity - The report suggests that threats to democracy are real and happening across the country, with pro-democracy forces resisting [10] - Concerns are raised about potential actions by Donald Trump to influence future elections, including redistricting, limiting mail-in voting, or militarizing blue states [24][25] - The report emphasizes the asymmetry in political warfare, with Republicans changing the rules while Democrats largely adhere to norms [19] Legal and Ethical Concerns - A state representative in Texas was allegedly told she was committing a felony for being on a call with Democratic leaders [6][7] - The report references a Supreme Court ruling from 2019 that allows for partisan gerrymandering [16] - The report suggests that the balance of power between states and the federal government is being corrupted [22][23]

All right, joining us now from Austin, NBC News correspondent Ryan Chandler and politics reporter for the Texas Tribune, Kayla Guo. Also with us is Fair Vote senior fellow and author of Anti-Democratic: Inside the Farright's 50-year plot to control American elections, David Daly, and University of Virginia professor and director of the Center for Politics, Larry Sabido. He is the co-author of the new book Campaign of Chaos: Trump, Biden, Harris, and the 2024 American Election. All right, Ryan, first off to ...

Redistricting and Political Strategy - The Democratic party is concerned about Republican-led redistricting efforts in states like Texas, viewing them as attempts to gain an unfair advantage [2][6][8] - The party is considering a ballot measure in California to address redistricting, emphasizing voter input, contrasting it with Texas' approach [4][9] - The proposed measure is framed as a temporary response to actions by Donald Trump, with the independent commission returning in 2031 [14] - The party aims to protect communities of color and uphold the Voting Rights Act in redistricting efforts [14] Concerns and Challenges - The Democratic party acknowledges losing millions of voter registrations, indicating a need to better connect with voters' concerns [15] - The party recognizes the need to address Americans' worries about the cost of living and job security [16][17] - The party believes unchecked power of Donald Trump and House Republicans after the 2026 elections will impact the ability of families across the country to provide for their families [18] Policy and Messaging - The Democratic party emphasizes the importance of healthcare access and affordable living for Americans [19][22] - The party accuses Texas Republicans of rigging the system due to a lack of a strong policy platform [20][21]

Redistricting and Political Tensions in Texas - The report highlights rising tensions surrounding redistricting in Texas, fueled by controversies and perceived threats [2][3] - The Republican chairman of the House Administration Committee plans to expedite the passage of the redistricting bill [4][5] - The redistricting fight is described as an echo of the past and a reflection of the current crisis, linked to undermining democratic norms [6][7] Concerns over Disenfranchisement - The report raises concerns about the potential disenfranchisement of Black and Brown voters due to redistricting [8][9] - It is argued that the redistricting maps in Texas could dilute the strength of some voters and boost the strength of others, citing an example where a district that backed Trump by 56% to 42% in 2024 would have an even greater advantage of 79% under the new maps [10] - The presence of 43 million (4.3%) Black people in Texas, the largest number in any state, is emphasized in the context of voting rights [8][19] Legal and Political Responses - The Supreme Court has held that federal courts cannot stop partisan gerrymandering [16] - The Voting Rights Act is identified as the most important constraint, protecting minority voters from vote dilution [17][20][21] - Democrats are portrayed as feeling compelled to take the redistricting issue to the national stage due to the underlying facts [23] - Some Democrats initially hoped for a compromise on the number of new districts, but this possibility faded [24]

Watch live coverage as the Texas House are scheduled to vote today on the GOP's plan to redraw the state's congressional map after Democratic lawmakers returned to Austin. Democrats fled the state for weeks to block a vote on the map, and several planned to spend the night last night on the statehouse floor in protest. Democrats are expected to debate and challenge the legality of Texas GOP's new plan to gerrymander five new GOP congressional seats in the state, before voting today. For more context and new ...

Will Redistricting Fight Spread After Texas And California? These States Could Be Next https://t.co/hqBSlLYHo1 https://t.co/jDORqmBMi5 ...