Texas, Austin and Democrats
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On Monday, House Democrats announced they were back in Austin. With their return, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature will likely move quickly to pass a new map of the state’s congressional districts.
Democratic leaders say they will return for a second special legislative session after seeing California Democratic leaders proceed with plans to redraw their own U.S. House maps to neutralize Republican gains in Texas.
Texas Democrats are fretting over a likely primary battle between Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Greg Casar (D-Texas) as Republicans move toward passing a new congressional map that pits the two incumbents against each other.
The national party is seeking to frame the quorum break as galvanizing event for Democrats. Texas Republicans are likely to pass the redistricted maps.
Texas Democrats ended a two-week walkout that stalled efforts to redraw congressional districts as part of a national partisan brawl over President Donald Trump’s desire to reshape U.S. House maps.