Texas Senate moves House Bill 4 to third reading amid heated debate over minority vote dilution

The Texas Senate on its floor suspended rules to lay House Bill 4 for third reading, setting up continued consideration of a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan that drew sharp disagreement along partisan and racial lines.

Senator Judith Zaffirini, speaking for Democrats, said the proposal “reflects the same failure by denying minority populations a fair opportunity to elect candidates of our choice,” and warned the map would erode districts protected under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Zaffirini and other Democratic senators cited a July 7 letter from the U.S. Department of Justice and recent court precedent in arguing the plan risks legal challenge.

Why it matters: opponents said the map would reduce the number of districts where minority voters can elect their preferred candidates, splinter school districts and longstanding communities of interest, and worsen underrepresentation for Hispanic, Black and Asian voters. Supporters said the plan responds to changing political preferences and is intended to…