(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast - August 1, 2025 [1] ['The Texas Tribune'] Date: 2025-08 Of course, that would be up to the Calendars Committee, which is chaired by House map author Todd Hunter , R-Corpus Christi. At the start of the House’s redistricting hearing today, Chair Cody Vasut , R-Angleton, said the committee will take action on the bill tonight or tomorrow. Additionally, he anticipates the map will be on the House floor on Tuesday, which make next week decision time for House Democrats. “It’s not something that I raised, but it clearly is something that’s on the minds of people in the state Capitol.” The night before, Jeffries told The Blast he didn’t bring up a breaking quorum during their private meeting: “It’s an all hands on deck moment, and all options should be on the table to protect the people of Texas,” Jeffries added, when asked whether he’s pushing members for a quorum break. “Texas Democrats are going to be the ones to decide.” One form of help is donors who can provide financial cover to Democratic lawmakers who rack up $500 daily fines for breaking quorum. “It’s not simply the case that help is on the way,” Jeffries said at the Thursday press conference. “Help is here, and we stand with Texas Democrats.” “I have enormous confidence, after Leader Jeffries’ meeting with all of us last night, that Texas Democrats are ready to show the country what a real fight looks like,” U.S. Rep. Greg Casar , D-Austin, told reporters the following morning. Seeing the proposed 30-8 map has lit a fire under Texas Democrats, according to sources in the room for U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries ’ private meeting with Democratic state lawmakers late Wednesday. With questions about a potential quorum break circling the Capitol, attention is turning to next week as a potential turning point. THE OPENLY POLITICAL GERRYMANDER Hunter gave a lengthy layout of his proposal in today’s hearing, defending it as a proper political gerrymander. “Different from everyone else, I’m telling you, I’m not beating around the bush,” Hunter said. “We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.” Republicans are openly admitting the political nature of the redraw perhaps to get their justification on the record. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that partisan gerrymandering is OK but has affirmed restrictions on racial gerrymandering. Being able to point to the political criteria in court will help when the cartographers have to defend the racial composition of some of the districts. Some Republicans point out that Democratic-led states have Republican congressional representation far below what would be proportional based on the statewide vote. California has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+12 but the delegation is split 43-9. Illinois is D+6 but split 14-3. New York is D+8 but split 19-7. However, Hunter and Republicans’ openness may also be contributing to the brazenness, as some Democrats have put it, of the mid-decade redistricting. The openly political maneuver, called at the behest of President Donald Trump, is helping form a national coalition of Democrats, particularly Democratic governors, to counter the Texas redistricting play. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker are all considering congressional redraws — maybe even extreme ones. In the state Capitol yesterday, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York pointed out that he was in Texas because Austin is currently the center of the national political battleground. Democrats are worked up now, but it’s also important to note that the first proposal won’t necessarily be the final one. Historically, the House and Senate present their own proposals before a final draft is adopted. After Wednesday’s Senate redistricting hearing, Chair Phil King, R-Weatherford, told The Blast there is no timeline for presenting their own map. But one could be in the works. King announced the committee has hired BakerHostetler as counsel on redistricting. The D.C.-based firm has extensive experience defending GOP-drawn districts. [END] --- [1] Url: https://thetexastribune.beehiiv.com/p/the-blast-august-1-2025-f3d17a67f1832aa6 Published and (C) by Texas Tribune Content appears here under this condition or license: Used with Permission: https://www.texastribune.org/republishing-guidelines/. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/texastribune/