Turner Responds to Initial Passage of GOP’s State House Map Proposal

(Austin, TEXAS) – Around 3:30 AM today, the House finally passed the Texas Republicans’ state House redistricting map on a vote of 83-63. 

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie) issued the following statement in response:

“Redistricting should be about drawing fair maps that accurately represent our state’s population, whose tremendous growth was driven almost entirely by minority communities. Instead, we witnessed 16 hours of Texas Republicans denying the importance of protecting minority opportunity districts and cutting up communities of interest.

“In their rush to pass their discriminatory map, Texas Republicans have abused the legislative process every step of the way — from the bill drafting to the hearing in committee to tonight’s final debate.

“Now more than ever, we need the U.S. Senate to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to restore the freedom to vote and ensure all Texans and all voters across the country are given the fair representation they deserve.”