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Texas Republicans release redistricting proposal with five more winnable GOP seats

Texas Republicans unveiled a new Wednesday that creates five additional GOP-leaning districts, in an effort to boost their chances of maintaining control of the House of Representatives as they brace for a challenging midterm election.

The redrawn map comes during a special legislative session called by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, as President Donald Trump urges Texas Republicans to reshape districts in the party's favor.

Republicans in Texas currently hold 25 of the state's 38 seats, and the new map ups the total they could win to 30. All of those new 30 seats were won by Trump in November by at least 10 percentage points, leading to conservative optimism they can hold them even in what's likely to be a tough midterm environment for the party.

Some Democratic lawmakers have talked of walking out of the special session to block action on redistricting. Legislators in Texas — and in other states, including Minnesota this year — have used the tactic in hopes of thwarting the other party, with mixed results.

The five winnable GOP seats come from making two Rio Grande Valley seats that have been narrowly won by Democrats recently slightly more Republican; combining the seats held by Austin-area Democrats Rep. Greg Casar and Rep. Lloyd Doggett; and turning one Democratic-held seat in both Dallas and Houston into GOP-majority ones.

"This newest attempt to save Republicans from the wrath of voters after they passed Trump's budget betrayal is an assault on Texas voters and a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act. It won't work," Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said in a statement. "Texas Democrats have fought tooth and nail against these maps, and the DNC will continue to support them. We will be exploring all options to fight back against this blatant gerrymander."

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