Local officials react to Texas redistricting

SMITH COUNTY – Over the weekend, fifty-one House Democrats went to Illinois to stall a meeting that was scheduled to take place Monday at 3 p.m. for a redistricting vote. This move by Texas Democrats has ignited fiery reactions nationwide from both sides of the aisle.

Some Republican lawmakers believe the current map does not correctly represent specific groups, specifically in the state’s two largest cities, Dallas and Houston. Democrats are concerned that this could heavily favor the GOP in elections. Smith County Democratic Chairman Hector Garza said this is all a power play to give five new Republican seats in the U.S. House.

District nine representative, Trent Ashby, says efforts to redraw the map are to make it more ‘constitutionally effective’.

“What we are attempting to do here in Texas is nothing new,” Ashby said. “If anything, what we’re trying to do is make sure that our current congressional districts are constitutional and reflect the will of Texas voters.”

“They’re doing it now because they have a fear of losing the house,” Garza said.”They have a fear of losing votes and losing seats on this. If they were truly making America great again, then they wouldn’t have to worry about losing seats. “

Governor Abbot is now threatening to arrest and remove the elected officials from their positions.

Republican representative, Joanne Shofner, claimed the Democrats are taking “… the coward’s way out” and, “the governors playing hard ball, the speakers playing hard ball because of this, as he can legally, that their seats are vacated.”

Chairman Garza said he doesn’t believe Abbott can fire the officials, since they were elected by the people, and predicts lawsuits would follow.