"Texas Redistricting Dispute Crosses State Borders: Airplane Banners and Roadside Signs Make a Statement"
In a political move aimed at countering Texas' Republican-led redistricting plan, a grassroots campaign named "Mess with Texas" has been launched. This campaign, reminiscent of Texas' iconic "Don't Mess with Texas" anti-litter campaign, is a response to the redistricting plan that adds five congressional seats and is widely viewed as a gerrymander to protect GOP power.
The redistricting plan, driven by Trump-aligned operatives, seeks to solidify Republican control of about 30 of the 38 districts, particularly targeting Democratic incumbents in South Texas, Dallas, Houston, and Central Texas. Democrats view this plan as suppressing voters of color and a broken process designed to diminish their legislative representation.
Texas' history of redistricting fights includes multiple legal challenges based on racial discrimination, and federal authorities such as the DOJ have sued Texas over past maps under the Voting Rights Act. The new map makes significant changes in North Texas, moving Democrat Rep. Marc Veasey's district from Tarrant to Dallas County, Democrat Rep. Julie Johnson's district from Dallas and Collin County to more conservative sections of East Texas, and Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett's Dallas seat becomes one of just two majority Black districts in the entire state.
The national pushback represented by "Mess with Texas" includes statements from Democratic governors like California's Gavin Newsom and New York's Kathy Hochul who have pledged to redraw districts in their own states to create more Democratic seats, essentially engaging in a partisan redistricting arms race. This battle over redistricting has sparked calls from legal and democracy advocacy groups for national standards to curb partisan gerrymandering, following the Supreme Court's 2019 decision that federal courts will not intervene in political gerrymandering claims.
In response, Governor Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit Tuesday night asking the Texas Supreme Court to remove Texas Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office. U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, has received approval for the FBI to help Texas law enforcement locate runaway Texas House Democrats. The lawsuit claims that Wu's actions, along with other Democrats who broke quorum, are an abandonment of their office, justifying their permanent removal from their positions.
In Houston, the new map reshapes four currently Democrat-held districts. The biggest change to the districts would be in the seat currently held by Rep. Al Green. The new map would shift the district from covering southern Harris County and instead move it to the eastern part of the county.
Wu, however, has defended his actions, stating that denying a quorum in the House was not an abandonment of office, but an upholding of his oath to the office. The "Mess with Texas" campaign, therefore, continues to escalate the national partisan fight over congressional maps.
- In a political response to Texas' Republican-led redistricting plan, reminiscent of the state's anti-litter campaign, a grassroots movement called "Mess with Texas" has been launched.
- The redistricting plan, driven by Trump-aligned operatives, aims to solidify Republican control of nearly 30 of the 38 districts and targets Democratic incumbents in major Texas cities.
- Democrats view this plan as a voter suppression tactic and a broken process designed to diminish their legislative representation, sparking calls for national standards to curb partisan gerrymandering.
- The new map, subject to national pushback, makes significant changes in North Texas, affecting the districts of Democract Representatives Marc Veasey, Julie Johnson, and Jasmine Crockett.
- The battle over redistricting has seen Democratic governors like California's Gavin Newsom and New York's Kathy Hochul pledging to redraw districts in their own states, escalating a partisan redistricting arms race.
- The escalating "Mess with Texas" campaign has also led to legal implications, with Governor Greg Abbott filing a lawsuit seeking to remove the Texas Democrat Caucus Chair, and the FBI aiding Texas law enforcement in locating runaway Democratic House representatives.
