The bill now heads back to the state Senate before it can make it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
The Texas House on Aug. 20 passed a newly drawn congressional map that would give Republicans five extra seats in the U.S. House.
The bill passed the state House in an 88–52 vote, following an earlier procedural vote that passed with the same tally. The votes followed several hours of debate.
The bill now heads back to the state Senate before it can make it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
The Texas Senate passed an earlier version of the map on Aug. 13.
Texas House Democrats returned to the state after a two-week standoff as they denied a quorum during the first special session, which was called to pass the redrawn map and to respond to flooding in central Texas.
They returned after two conditions were met: the ending of the first special session, and California’s introduction of a redrawn congressional map that would respond to Texas’s redistricting by seeking to add five Democratic seats in California.
“Under the advice of legal counsel, Democrats must return to Texas to build a strong public legislative record for the upcoming legal battle against a map that violates both the current Voting Rights Act and the Constitution,” the Texas House Democratic Caucus said in an Aug. 14 statement.
“Trump thought he could easily get his way in Texas with compliant Republicans, but Democrats fought back ferociously and took the fight to Trump across America. We will return to the House floor and to the courthouse with a clear message: the fight to protect voting rights has only just begun.”
Abbott announced a second special session on Aug. 15.
“Delinquent House Democrats ran away from their responsibility to pass crucial legislation to benefit the lives of Texans,” he said in a statement.
“We will not back down from this fight. That’s why I am calling them back today to finish the job. I will continue to use all necessary tools to ensure Texas delivers results for Texans.”
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows on Aug. 18 announced that the chamber had a quorum after Democrats returned to the state.
By Jackson Richman and Joseph Lord
