Power shift

last updated 8 January 2015

Austin

Texas legislators have approved new boundaries for the state’s congressional districts, a move that could send up to seven more Republicans to Washington and greatly boost GOP efforts to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Democratic lawmakers, who twice fled the state to delay a vote, said they would challenge the plan in court. Democrats, who now control 17 of the state’s 32 seats in the House, called the redistricting plan a “power grab.” Republicans, who control every statewide office and both houses of the state legislature, said the changes were overdue. “Texans will now get the opportunity to elect a congressional delegation that is reflective of their views,” said Gov. Rick Perry.