This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8z4nj17dno

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Texas house votes to approve Republican redistricting maps Texas house votes to approve Republican redistricting maps
(32 minutes later)
Texas legislators have approved new congressional maps meant to give Republicans an edge in next year's elections for the US House of Representatives. Watch: Moment redistricting bill is passed in the Texas House of Representatives
After a two-week standoff, where Democrats fled the state to stall the vote and rally supporters against the redistricting plans, Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives passed the new voting lines in an 88 - 52 vote. Texas legislators have approved new congressional maps designed to give Republicans an edge in next year's elections for the US House of Representatives.
After a two-week standoff, where Democrats fled the state to stall the vote and rally supporters against the redistricting plans, Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives passed the new voting lines in an 88-52 vote.
The maps will now go to the Texas Senate, where they are expected to be swiftly approved.The maps will now go to the Texas Senate, where they are expected to be swiftly approved.
The new maps are intended give Republicans five seats that are currently held by Democrats and shore up the party's US House majority. However, Democrat-led states are pushing to redraw their maps to offset those gains. They create five new Republican-leaning seats that would shore up the party's US House majority in Washington DC. Democratic-led states are pushing to redraw their own maps to offset the Texas ones.
President Donald Trump backed redrawing the maps to safeguard a Republican majority in the US House. Republicans currently hold a slim majority in the chamber, which Democrats hope to eclipse in the next 2026 election. President Donald Trump backed redrawing the maps to safeguard a Republican majority in the US House.
The vote followed a dramatic showdown between Republicans leaders and Democrats who fled and drew national attention to the redistricting push. Republicans hold a slim majority in the upper chamber of Congress, which Democrats aim to win back in the 2026 midterm elections.
At least two-thirds of the 150-member state legislative body in Texas must be present to proceed with the vote, called a quorum. It became unreachable in the Texas House of Representatives after Democrats fled. Wednesday's vote in Texas followed a dramatic showdown as Democrats fled across state lines to deny Republicans the quorum necessary in the state legislative body to take a vote.
Texas Gov Greg Abbott issued arrest warrants for members of the group and multiple Democrats said law enforcement had been monitoring their homes while they were gone. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, ordered their absent Democrats' arrest, and some of them said law enforcement had monitored their homes while they were gone.
The lawmakers returned this week, saying they believed their stalling helped garner widespread awareness of the redistricting plans and caused multiple states to mull their own plans to counter Republicans. The lawmakers returned this week, saying they had achieved their objective of drawing national attention to the matter.
In an effort to ensure Democrats would not attempt to halt the vote again, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows on Monday ordered the house chamber doors be locked. In an effort to ensure Democrats would not attempt to halt the vote again, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordered the statehouse chamber doors to be locked on Monday.
He also said Democrats would be "released into the custody" of a designated police officer to ensure they return to the statehouse on Wednesday for the redistricting vote. He also said Democrats would be "released into the custody" of a designated police officer to ensure they returned to the statehouse on Wednesday for the redistricting vote.
Several Democrats instead ripped up the written agreements that they were required to sign for the police escort. One lawmaker, state Rep Nicole Collier elected to sleep in the house chamber instead of being escorted by an officer. Several Democrats instead ripped up the written agreements that they were required to sign for the police escort. One lawmaker, Nicole Collier, decided to sleep in the chamber rather than be escorted by an officer.
Watch: What is gerrymandering? We use gummy bears to explainWatch: What is gerrymandering? We use gummy bears to explain
In the time since Texas started mulling these new voting maps, other states controlled by both political parties - including Florida, New York, Ohio and Missouri - have been mulling political changes to their voting maps. In the time since Texas started planning these new voting maps, other states controlled by both political parties - including Florida, New York, Ohio and Missouri - have been weighing similar changes.
California lawmakers are currently debating new maps that would give new advantages to Democrats in five districts, which would cancel out changes made in Texas.California lawmakers are currently debating new maps that would give new advantages to Democrats in five districts, which would cancel out changes made in Texas.
A key provision in California says the changed maps would only go into effect if Texas or other states went ahead with changes favouring Republicans. A key provision in California says the maps would only go into effect if Texas or other states went ahead with changes favouring Republicans.
After the vote on Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: "It's on, Texas". After the vote on Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: "It's on, Texas."
The changed maps in Texas sparked concerns about gerrymandering - the redrawing of electoral boundaries to favour a political party - which is legal unless it is racially motivated. The new maps in Texas sparked uproar over gerrymandering - the redrawing of electoral boundaries to favour a political party - which is practised by both main parties and is legal unless ruled to be racially motivated.
Like other states, Texas typically redraws congressional districts once a decade when new population data is released by the US Census.Like other states, Texas typically redraws congressional districts once a decade when new population data is released by the US Census.
Texas Democrats contend that redrawing the maps before the next census count in 2030 is being done along racial lines - an argument that has been rejected by Republicans. Voting maps that were approved in 2021 after the last population count are currently being litigated over allegations of racial discrimination. Texas Democrats claimed that redrawing the maps before the next population count in 2030 was being done along racial lines - an argument that has been rejected by Republicans.
During one of the many heated exchanges during debate in the Texas statehouse, Republican Rep Todd Hunter, who introduced the redistricting bill, scolded Democrats who left the state - a denouncement that was met with applause in the chamber. Voting maps that were approved in 2021 after the last population count are still being litigated over claims of racial discrimination.
"Don't come into this body and say we didn't include you," he said of the decision on the new maps. "You left us for 18 days, and that's wrong." During one of the many heated exchanges during debate in the Texas statehouse, Republican legislator Todd Hunter, who introduced the redistricting bill, was applauded as he scolded Democrats.
Democrats in the chamber questioned the legality of the maps and called out Republicans who they accused of trying to "steal" an election. "Don't come into this body and say we didn't include you," he said. "You left us for 18 days, and that's wrong."
"Let's talk about cowardice and cheats," Democratic Rep Ann Johnson said, adding "if you knew you could win this next election, you wouldn't be taking this effort to try to steal five seats." Democrats in the chamber questioned the legality of the maps and accused Republicans of trying to "steal" an election.
Democrats and civil rights groups have said the new maps will dilute voting power from people of colour, which would violate federal law, and have threatened sue. "Let's talk about cowardice and cheats," Democratic legislator Ann Johnson said.
"The root of all of this is around racism and power," Rep Johnson said. "A pure power grab." "The root of all of this is around racism and power," she added. "A pure power grab."
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Democrats and civil rights groups have said the new maps will dilute voting power from minorities, which would violate federal law, and have threatened to sue.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.