Politics

NPR - Lawmakers in Texas and California are back to work in their state capitols as the battle to redistrict intensifies across the country. Texas Democrats returned to the state after fleeing for two weeks to stall a newly drawn congressional map favoring the GOP. They stated they would end their standoff if California Democrats put together their own redistricting map to counter the one in Texas. California Democrats released a map that could result in five more Democratic seats in the U.S. House to offset the expected five new Republican seats from Texas. 

Democrats in California say they plan to vote on the map this week and get it in front of voters in November. In order to do that, lawmakers have to pass the bill by a two-thirds vote. The passage is likely because Democrats hold a supermajority in the state, says Laura Fitzgerald with CapRadio in Sacramento. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democratic lawmakers and other leaders have launched a campaign urging voters to support the measure. Republicans are threatening to file lawsuits challenging the ballot measure, as they say Democrats are sidelining California’s independent redistricting commission, which is in the state’s constitution, by going to voters. 

Trump announced yesterday that he aims to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines before next year’s midterm elections. Part of his plan involves signing an executive order barring states from potentially using either option. He said, without evidence, that the machines are inaccurate, expensive and less reliable than counting paper ballots.