A Texas House panel on Saturday advanced a draft congressional map aimed at adding five new Republican districts next year over protests from Democrats that the proposal would suppress the votes of people of color.

With a 12-6 vote, House Bill 4, authored by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, moves a step closer to reaching the Texas House floor for a vote in the

States can draw electoral maps for partisan gain, but not if it dilutes the power of voters of color, courts have found.