Latest news with #JulieJohnson
CBS News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
North Texas congressional districts dramatically changed in new redistricting plan
Texas Republicans unveiled their proposed changes to the state's congressional map Tuesday, setting the stage for sweeping changes across the state ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. "Texas Republicans are going all out trying to fulfill Donald Trump's goal of flipping five Democratic held seats," said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University. If approved, the redrawn map would give the GOP a path to win up to 30 of the state's 38 congressional seats, which is five more than they currently hold. To achieve that goal, Republican lawmakers propose significantly altering several districts in North Texas, targeting Democratic members of Congress and shifting boundaries to favor conservative-leaning areas. District 33, currently represented by Democrat Marc Veasey, would be moved out of Tarrant County entirely, which would leave only a small portion of the county represented by a Democrat. District 32, anchored in Dallas and represented by Democrat Julie Johnson, would be reshaped to pick up parts of Rockwall County, a shift expected to make it more favorable to Republicans. The map would also pack more minority voters into District 30, a Democratic stronghold. Jones says the changes could reduce the number of Democratic congressional representatives in North Texas from three to as few as one or two. "They've extended some of the districts out into East Texas and into West Texas, where you have more reliable Republican voting bases, meaning that the overall weight of the Dallas-Fort Worth area will be lower," Jones said. Both Johnson and Veasey have slammed the proposed map, with Johnson calling it a "corrupt, racist, power grab." "This map is a disaster — crafted to divide neighborhoods and rig the game for Donald Trump," said Rep. Johnson in a statement. "It's a desperate move from a party losing its grip on a changing state. Thousands of Texans have overwhelmingly spoken up against this scheme across the state. The message is clear: We don't want this done in our name." Marc Veasey released this statement: "Let's be clear - this map is racist, it's illegal, and it's part of a long, ugly tradition of trying to keep Black and Brown Texas from having a voice. What Donald Trump and Greg Abbott are doing isn't about democracy - it's about consolidating power. Republicans are bending their knee to a wannabe king, drawing maps in backrooms to appease a man who tried to overthrow an election and now wants to overthrow the will of Texans."To Trump, Abbott, and the servile Republicans, I say this: Black people in this country fought, bled, and died for the right to vote, and we will never bend the knee again to any man. Not to Trump. Not Abbott. Not to anyone who thinks they can shut us and the Republican cowards want to rig the system because they know they can't win when every voice counts and every vote matters. So instead of earning our votes, they are trying to erase we are still here. We will fight in the courts, in the streets, and at the ballot box. No matter how hard they try, we aren't going anywhere." The feedback at public hearings on redistricting has been overwhelmingly negative, with most people coming to speak against redrawing boundary lines. However, not everyone agrees with the criticism. Republican political consultant William Busby believes the proposed map accurately reflects recent voting trends. "We are seeing the trend of voters in the suburbs and in more rural areas - they are voting Republican, they are voting for Republican principles," Busby said. "These maps reflect the trend and the voting behavior of the voters in the state of Texas." Texas House Democrats say they are prepared to do whatever it takes to fight the redistricting effort, including potentially leaving the state to break quorum, a tactic used during previous legislative battles. "This map is so aggressive and changes African-American representation in the state so dramatically, it's very likely to trigger a negative reaction by Texas House Democrats," said Jones. "That could lead to another quorum break, ending the current special session and forcing a second one. Then it becomes a question of who can wait the longest." The proposed map is still subject to change before lawmakers vote on it.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Dem Rep pushes Democrats to gerrymander blue states as GOP redraws Texas map
President Trump is urging Texas lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional maps, although state maps are typically drawn at the end of each decade, making the timing ahead of the 2026 election unusual for such a move. Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX), whose district may be targeted by the GOP to maintain their majority in Congress, joins Alex Witt to discuss.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stone's new banking hub meets with approval
A new banking hub has been welcomed by queues of customers on its official opening is the third location in Staffordshire to have its own banking hub and the 178th in the former Betfred site now offers face-to-face staffing to customers of NatWest, Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC and Santander.'I think it's absolutely brilliant,' beamed Barclays customer Elizabeth Evans. 'We haven't had a branch in Stone for quite a long time now, so we usually have to go to Stafford."This is just so nice in the high street, wonderful. I was given a seat because there was a queue to see the Barclays representative and even offered water and it was wonderful." The last branch of a high street bank in Stone closed in canal town has had a temporary banking facility at the Frank Jordan Centre for the past twelve months but numerous customers said they were delighted with the new Johnson was there to bank money collected by the Parent Teacher Association at a local school.'We thought we had nothing and now we've got somewhere where we can do everything,' she said.'People want to see face-to-face interactions and still people want to see bankers from the different banks,' said banking hub operator Vik said it took a year to get the hub ready to were still important in people's lives, Mr Puri added, saying "specifically vulnerable people, those who can't drive, those who don't want to go to another town".'The community is really loving us here, we've had a good response." Local businesses hoped the new facility would also increase the footfall into the Walker, from the Artisan Boutique across the road from the new hub, described it as amazing.'It should bring people into the town and be good for all businesses,' she said. The banking hub, owned by not-for-profit company Cash Access UK and operated by the Post Office, is open from 09:00 to 17:00 on hub can be used to pay in and withdraw cash/cheques on any week day, but customers can only book appointments with their respective bank consultants on their allocated day.
10-07-2025
- Politics
Texas congresswoman on flood preparations and response
Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, joins ABC News Live to discuss the flood preparations and response efforts after the devastating floods in Texas.
CBS News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Texas lawmakers in Congress discuss U.S. bombing of Iran, and whether to trust that nation won't rebuild its nuclear weapons program
Multiple U.S. and international agencies say the U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear weapons sites, on top of Israel's attacks, have caused severe damage to the terrorist nation's program. Republican U.S. Representative Pat Fallon, 4th Congressional District in North Texas, told CBS News Texas that he fully supported President Trump's military operation. In an interview for Eye On Politics, he said, "I think President Trump took the right action. It was a decisive action. It's obvious that Iran's nuclear program is a lot worse off today than it was just a few weeks ago and this is the nation state that's the largest state sponsor of terror in the world. They're responsible for the death of over 600 U.S. service members in Iraq. So this is a regime that definitely needed to be curtailed and we don't want to see them go nuclear." In an interview for Eye On Politics, Democratic U.S. Representative Julie Johnson of Farmers Branch told CBS News Texas that the bombings were in the national interest for the U.S. and Israel. "We don't want a nuclearized Iran, right. That is a full stop. Nobody wants Iran to possess nuclear weapons. And so obviously, the President felt like they needed to intervene that Israel obviously had taken those steps. The men and women of our military executed the mission that the President had for them. Seems like they executed well. I'm thrilled that there's a cease fire. That's what we want. We want peace in the region." Distrust in Iran moving forward Neither Johnson nor Fallon said they trust Iran to do the right thing and not attempt to rebuild their nuclear weapons program. Johnson said, "I think we always have to be suspicious. They're a very hostile power to the United States. They're a hostile power to Israel and their right to exist. They have been an enemy of this country for many years, so I don't think we can trust them to do anything at this point." Fallon said, "I 100 percent do not trust the theocratic authoritarian regime in Tehran. Absolutely not. We know we cannot trust them, and we can't verify. So, any agreement that we have moving forward has to be verifiable with the International Atomic Energy Agency to give them that access to ensure that there's not centrifuges, that there's not enriching uranium to weapons grade things of that nature, and that's complete, open unfettered access. Otherwise, it's not worth the paper that it's written on any agreement with these folks." Vote to impeach President Trump After the President's decision to bomb Iran, U.S. Representative Al Green, D-Houston, filed a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump. While 79 Democrats in the House voted for the resolution, most of the Democratic members of Congress voted to table the resolution. They include Representative Johnson who explained, "We don't have the votes to impeach the President. And so, it's just simple as that. Democrats have tried that path. They've sung that song twice now unsuccessfully, and it just creates diversion from the message that Democrats have that's really permeating through the people of this country." Fallon criticized the Democrats. "That was an absurd vote. It's just throwing slop to the extreme left."
