By Brad Brooks
(Reuters) -The Texas Senate on Friday began debating a bill that redraws the state’s congressional maps at the behest of President Donald Trump in an effort to flip five seats held by Democrats to Republicans.
After the state House passed it on Wednesday, the Senate was anticipated to approve it on Friday. Texas Governor Greg Abbott was expected then to quickly sign it into law amid a contentious nationwide redistricting battle.
Republicans have acknowledged they believe winning more congressional seats in Texas will help the party maintain its slim majority in the U.S. House in next year’s midterm elections, despite polls showing headwinds for the party. More states controlled by Republicans are considering similar action.
California and other states where Democrats hold power vow to counter such moves. The California legislature on Thursday approved a redistricting plan aimed at giving Democrats five more congressional seats.
The California plan must be approved by voters in November. The Texas plan does not need voter approval, but Democrats have indicated they will challenge it in court.
The Texas bill was delayed for two weeks after more than 50 Democratic state House members staged a walkout that denied Republicans the legislative quorum needed. They have returned.
During debate on Friday, some lawmakers echoed Democrats’ accusations that the new Texas map dilutes the voting power of Hispanic and Black voters, violating federal law that forbids redrawing political lines on the basis of racial or ethnic discrimination.
Texas Senator Phil King, a Republican sponsor of the bill, said repeatedly he had not considered race and lawyers have assured him the bill meets all legal requirements.
“From my perspective, why would I use racial data?” he told his fellow senators. “Voting history is just much more accurate and is well-established as a legal way to draw maps.”
Most Americans believe redrawing congressional lines for the sake of maximizing political gain, known as gerrymandering, is bad for democracy, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Colorado, editing by Donna Bryson and Cynthia Osterman)
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