SACRAMENTO, Calif. — (TNS) After hours of tense debate, California lawmakers on Thursday greenlit a special election on redistricting this November, sending a politically gerrymandered map to voters over Republican criticisms that the plan is unconstitutional, hypocritical and lacks transparency.

The three-bill package reached the necessary two-thirds majority in both chambers, meaning Californians will vote in a Nov. 4 election on a new congressional map intended to turn at least five solidly red districts blue.

The vote marked a return volley by Democrats in a national redistricting war the day after Texas lawmakers approved a new congressional map, at the behest of President Donald Trump, to give Republicans an edge in five Lone Star State districts.

“The only reason we are here tod

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