Texas Senate panel advances House-drawn map, teeing it up for full vote
A Texas Senate committee on Thursday passed a new set of congressional lines, which were passed in the Texas House the day before, teeing them up for a full vote in the upper chamber later in the day.
The Texas Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting passed a new congressional map in a 5-3 vote, with one absent. The congressional lines still aim to give Republicans five pick-up opportunities in the House next year.
The full Texas Senate is set to convene at 8 pm E.T. on Thursday for passage of the map.
The state Senate committee had previously advanced a separate set of proposed congressional lines over the weekend, which both chambers had used during the first special session.
But state Rep. Todd Hunter (R) introduced a slightly amended version of Republicans’ House map during their second special session, where Republicans stand to benefit even further, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
One of the biggest changes in the new map is Rep. Al Green’s (D-Texas) seat in the 9th Congressional District, which would make it a bigger pickup opportunity for Republicans as it folded all of Liberty County, eastern Harris County and eastern Houston together, Houston Public Media reported.
A state House redistricting panel passed the new map, with the lower chamber voting to advance it to the state Senate on Wednesday.
The state Senate is expected to pass the lines later on Thursday, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is expected to quickly sign the new map once it heads to his desk.
Updated: 11:25 a.m.