The Texas Legislature has approved a new congressional map that could give Republicans up to five additional U.S. House seats.

The State Senate passed the measure just after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, following more than eight hours of debate. Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the map into law.

Republicans say the redrawn districts are necessary to preserve their narrow majority in Congress. “I’m convinced that if Texas does not take this action, that there is an extreme risk that that Republican majority will be lost,” said state Sen. Phil King, who also stated during debate that he did not review racial data.

Democrats argue the map illegally weakens the voting power of Black and Hispanic Texans and plan to file a lawsuit once the map is signed into law.

During the final vote,

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