First domino in national redistricting fight likely to fall with Texas GOP poised for vote on maps

Several of Texas’ top Republicans are defending Gov. Greg Abbott’s pick to head the state’s water agency following pointed questions from a GOP lawmaker over the agency’s diversity hiring policies.

Texas Republicans are digging in for a final weekend vote on some of the most restrictive new voting laws in the U.S. A sweeping bill finalized Saturday would eliminate drive-thru voting, reduce polling hours and scale back Sunday voting.