Texas legislators have approved new congressional maps designed to give Republicans an edge in next year’s elections for the US House of Representatives.
Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives passed the new voting lines in an 88-52 vote, creating five new Republican-leaning seats.
It followed a two-week stand-off in which Democrats fled the state to stall the vote and rally supporters against the redistricting plans.
The maps will now go to the state Senate, where they are expected to be swiftly approved and then signed off by the Texas governor.
President Donald Trump, who backed redrawing the maps to safeguard a Republican majority in the US House, reacted with the words: "Big WIN for Great State of Texas!!!".
Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog
For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news
#Texas #BBCNews
