Redistricting gives Republicans in the state the opportunity to ‘increase their strength and numbers’, experts say

Experts, politicians and concerned Texans say their state could be a blueprint for Republican efforts to stave off losses in next year’s elections, with some calling the GOP division a “festering wound” in Texas – all while Donald Trump stacks the deck against potential Democratic inroads.

Last month, nearly 150 people showed up at a Tarrant county commissioners court meeting in north Texas. The packed building wasn’t used to such a high volume of visitors, but the day’s key vote had been hotly contested for weeks.

In an unusual move, the commissioners court initiated a redistricting process that both liberal and conservative voters widely criticized. One map, as proposed, would essentially funnel more people of color away from precinct 2 and into precinct 1, thereby creating an opening for a GOP that has historically underperformed with people of color. The map’s staunchest critics called the map “racial gerrymandering”, while the county judge, Tim O’Hare, claimed it was just about politics.

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    1 day ago

    The map’s staunchest critics called the map “racial gerrymandering”, while the county judge, Tim O’Hare, claimed it was just about politics

    “Hear that SCOTUS? I’m following the rules YOU set! I’m only rigging it for political reasons so we always win! It’s not racist at all which makes it totally fine and cool by YOUR standard! Political gerrymandering, denying a majority their say is what we’re allowed to do! Yay America!”

    /wrist