Several Texas Democrats—including US Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas), Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), Greg Casar (D-Austin), and Al Green (D-Houston)—made their way to Austin on Aug. 1 to testify against redistricting plans from Republicans Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump.
The newly proposed maps dismantle Democratic strongholds by redrawing US House districts in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and South Texas. Republicans control 25 of the state’s 38 seats in the US House, but Trump and Abbott want the new maps to give them five more.
“It is a sham that we sit here and y’all pretend as if you care about what the people have to say, but we are going to make y’all listen as long as you will,” Crockett, who is drawn out of her own district under the new maps, said during her testimony. “This map does nothing but divide, distract, and depress.”
