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Texas Senate Republicans killed a planned filibuster by Democrats and passed the newly drawn state Congressional maps.
The vote was 18 to 11 at 12:30am Saturday. The package now goes to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk.
Houston State Senator Carol Alvarado planned to filibuster the map well into Saturday as a last stand against the effort, but a rare procedural motion by Senate Republicans just after midnight ended the debate and killed the filibuster, moving the chamber straight on to the final vote. Some observers in the gallery were removed for shouting “shame,” and “fascist,” shortly after the vote.
The bill could give Texas five new Republican seats in the US House.
California has started the process of gerrymandering its map. Other liberal states are considering it. Some red states are as well.
In a statement, Governor Abbott said, “The One Big Beautiful Map has passed the Senate and is on its way to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law," said Governor Abbott. "I promised we would get this done, and delivered on that promise. I thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for leading the passage in the Senate of a bill that ensures our maps reflect Texans' voting preferences."