The Brief

AUSTIN - The Texas House approved new mid-decade redistricting maps on Wednesday after a two-week delay with a vote of 88-52.

After the map's approval, the full piece of legislation, House Bill 4, was finally passed by the lower chamber. Debate over the legislation finished around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Now that the bill has been approved by the House, a Senate committee will discuss the legislation Thursday morning.

The Republican-led House was looking to create five additional GOP House seats ahead of next year's midterm election.

Redistricting is usually only done after the U.S. census every 10 years.

Republicans say the new districts were drawn to maximize partisan advantage.

Democrats opposed the new maps, saying they're based on racial discrimination.

The Senate has

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