How do you feel about Texas redistricting plan?

[Cubus]

Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to draw a new congressional maps for mid-decade redistricting. Citing narrow advantage in the current House delegation, Trump want to "get at least 5 new Repblicans" to pass legislation easier.

The first draft of the new Texas map draws three Democrats (Sylvia Garcia from 29th district, Julie Johnson of 32th district and Greg Casar from 35th district) into red districts that would have voted for Trump by over 10 points in 2024. This also makes 28th and 34th districts (that were already swing districts that voted for Trump in 2024) represented by moderate Democrats Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez slightly more red-leaning.

[Syntosi]

Well its obviously an attempt to wrestle more power away from the people and held by the GOP but I honestly just view it as desperate.

First of all, I am not convinced it would work. Texas is already fairly gerrymandered so pushing the limits further has the risk of making crucial miscalculations. If they screw up, and for example use incorrect survey data then they risk just giving even more seats to the Democrats.

This is a high risk, low reward maneuver quite honestly and they risk causing retaliations from Democrats in states that is much easier to gerrymander in favor of the Democrats.

[Twalli]

California will redraw their districts to (at the least) offset this. They're going to pass a resultion to do so that only takes effect if Texas does (if they haven't already). It will not benefit Trump, because New York is also considering it. If they both add 5 democrat seats, that is a net loss of 5 seats for Trump.

[Avicenna]

If you believe this, why are your fellow Democrats freaking out?

[Twalli]

@Avicenna Because it's violating the law. Trump is urging Texas to do this because he is terrified that he'll lose the majority in The House. Almost like, he knows that he'll party will lose the majority unless he "cheats". I like that Newsom is doing this because I find that The Democrats are far less likely to fight fire with fire, so to show Trump that we'll use the tactics he makes legal if they can benefit us.

[Avicenna]

Hmmm, what law is being violated by Texas? Is Newsom going to have to change any laws or violate them?

[Twalli]

@Avicenna the laws governing a census that can redraw districts that next happens in 2030. I think there's one every 10 years.

[Avicenna]

If there is a federal law that says a state cannot redistrict in 2025 (meaning between censuses) cite that law (we already know redistricting must occur after every census - that’s not what’s in dispute here). And please explain why California and New York are threatening to redistrict as well if such a federal law exists?

If there is a state law, cite that law.

You say there laws, now cite them. If you can’t, they don‘t exist. Incidentally, Texas itself did a redistricting in 2004. Can you explain that?

[Twalli]

@Avicenna I don't actually know the law outside that you can't redistricting before a census and the next census is in 2030. The only way Trimp can make this legal is by having a census. That's what he's trying to do. Even if states don't redistricting after it, all states can. Trump is pressuring Greg Abbot to do it in Texas, and he is willing. Newsom said he'll do the same in California if (and only if) Texas does this. I don't know if NY will actually do anything, because they haven't publicly said they would.
If it was just redistricting due to population changes that have altered the demographics, it would make sense. The problem is, that Abjot has said on record that it's to give Trump another 5 seats in The House. So it's not so much that they want to, but why they want to. Honestly, if there wasn't a law about it, I don't see why Abbot wouldn't have done it yet. He could have started it before the democrats left if it was easy.

[Avicenna]

The reason that you don’t know what law it could be is that there is no federal law that prevents redistricting between censuses.

Furthermore, federal courts can order redistricting if there is violation of federal laws.

[Avicenna]

The Governor of New York is not only open to redistricting now, but is even willing to change the law in that state to do it. Same as in California.

www.cityandstateny.com/.../

I know you want to believe the worst, about Republicans but it’s usually a good idea to verify
things rather than believing everything you see online. If you had, you would have found out there is no law banning redistricting between census instead of simply assuming there was.

Texas law required a quorum and Democrats left before the special session. But that’s not the main issue here.

[Cubus]

New York is 19-7. It is not possible to draw 5 Republicans out of their districts due to geography. Only 1 or 2 at best (and one of these districts is already blue leaning, and it's only represented by a Republican, because that Republican is moderate). Not only that, but New York's constitution prohibits political gerrymander, and changing it is not possible before 2027.

And in California redistricting would require changing the constitution and holding a referendum, as they have an independent redistricting commision.

[WindAtMyBack]

It's called politics and the self righteous Democrats play hardball WAY more than the Republicans. If the Republicans had as many hardball players as the Democrats, the Dems wouldn't get by with nearly as much shit as they do.

Fuck Democrats. Do whatever it takes to beat them.

[exitseven]

It is good that Republicans are going on the offense. They need to hang on to both the house and senate so Trump has two more years for fix the country and hopefully set things up for 8 years with JD Vance as president.
That and not counting illegal aliens in the census will help greatly.

[msc545]

Pretty much anything that Trump decides to do is combative and designed to diminish our democracy in significant ways. Basically what I think about him and his redistricting plans is that both can go to hell.

[Dargil]

The party in power should always feather it's nest.

[Dongie]

Well with that being said, we here in the great state of Texas do want to keep things out of the hands of the enemy!

[Shiprex]

@Dongie by cheating?
Breaking the law?
Ignoring the constitution?
For what? So a sex pest can keep losing his marbles and pretend he's a king?
You're better than that.

[Dongie]

Hey shipper, FUCK YOU PUSSY!!

[Dongie]

Pull some intellectual discussion from that shithead!!

[Shiprex]

He's a shambles, sleeping on the job passing himself in meetings.
It's a disgrace lad. You need your spectacles cleaned.

[Dongie]

You should see our opposition from my clear eyes punk!

[Shiprex]

They're nothing like as dottled and losing their mind

[LuXtreme]

Trump is an asshole. That's what i think.

[kavakava]

It's a good idea. It'll make it more fair.

[dustybiker2]

It's illegal.

[DrPepper12]

Criminal coup

[zombiewoof]

Do it fairly,