The battle over a hastily orchestrated attempt to redraw Texas congressional districts at the urging of Donald Trump kicked off its first hearing on Thursday – but it was Democrats who did most of the talking before Republicans cut the public session short.
Several of the state’s most prominent Democratic politicians and progressive activists rallied in front of the capitol ahead of the first of three public hearings to gather public comment on the proposed redistricting plan. Speaking through a bullhorn to a crowd of perhaps 150 activists waving signs with slogans such as “prevent floods, not votes”, they took turns excoriating Texas Republicans for prioritizing redistricting over helping victims of the devastating Hill country floods during the legislature’s special session and for bowing to Trump’s pressure to redistrict several years ahead of schedule.
