Texas Republicans are pursuing new congressional maps intended to increase Republican House seats and strengthen President Trump's position. Dozens of Texas House Democrats left the state for two weeks to deny a quorum and delay redistricting. The Republican House speaker required signed permission slips and law-enforcement escorts for departures; Fort Worth Rep. Nicole Collier refused and was locked in the House chamber for two nights while giving interviews and taking a call from former Vice President Kamala Harris. Republicans assert the redistricting is legal and deny racial gerrymandering. Other states, including California, are advancing partisan maps that could affect control of the U.S. House.
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows then ordered Democrats to sign a slip of paper, stating they would be given permission to leave the floor under custody of Texas law enforcement and under the condition that they return for Wednesday's session. When Fort Worth Rep. Nicole Collier refused to sign, she was locked in the House chamber, where she stayed for two nights, giving interviews and taking a call from former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, other states have promised their own partisan maps to try to tip the balance of the U.S. House, where President Trump's agenda hinges on a slim margin. California Democrats are moving quickly to pass their congressional map over the objections of Republicans in that state. That map, however, would require voter approval, because the Golden State's Constitution requires that an independent commission handle redistricting.
Collection
[
|
...
]