Texas Senate Panel Votes Against Subpoena DOJ Redistricting Attorney

Texas lawmakers are embroiled in a contentious debate over congressional redistricting, with Democrats pushing for transparency and accountability regarding a DOJ letter that accused Texas districts of racial gerrymandering. The letter, authored by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, has been cited by Gov. Greg Abbott as justification for a special session to redraw the maps. Democrats have sought to subpoena Dhillon to testify about the DOJ's concerns, but the Texas Senate redistricting panel, led by Republican Sen. Phil King, has voted against issuing subpoenas, citing procedural reasons and questioning their authority to compel testimony from a federal official. King has expressed disagreement with the DOJ's racial gerrymandering claim and defended the 2021 map as legal, even as litigation continues. Republicans have introduced a new redistricting bill that could shift several Democratic seats to Republican control, while Democrats criticize the lack of released maps and call for public hearings. The ongoing dispute highlights the political and legal complexities surrounding mid-decade redistricting in Texas, with significant implications for partisan balance in the U.S. House.