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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is suing Texas over its redistricting plan that would eliminate five Democratic congressional seats.
The NAACP filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, arguing the new congressional map “was enacted with an impermissible and controlling discriminatory purpose on the basis of race.” It names Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson as plaintiffs.
“It’s quite obvious that Texas’s effort to redistrict mid-decade, before next year’s midterm elections, is racially motivated. The state’s intent here is to reduce the members of Congress who represent Black communities, and that, in and of itself, is unconstitutional,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the NAACP said it is also encouraging blue states to enact their own redistricting plans in an effort to offset the effects of the new Texas map.
“At this time, the NAACP is urging California, New York, and all other states to act immediately by redistricting and passing new, lawful, and constitutional electoral maps,” the group wrote Tuesday. “We must counter Texas’ unconstitutional move and ensure that if all else fails, Black Americans still have a voice in Congress.”
The Republican-controlled state Senate passed the redistricting map on Friday, just two days after clearing the GOP-held House by an 88-52 vote.
The move has kicked off a redistricting battle nationwide, however. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats passed their own new map on Thursday, which creates five new districts that lean Democratic, jeopardizing the seats of Republicans.
That map will first face a Nov. 4 statewide vote before being adopted, however. That special election is expected to cost taxpayers some $230 million.
Newsom’s office has responded to criticism around the cost by arguing, “There’s no price tag for democracy.”
Fox News’ Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
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