HOUSTON - The Texas GOP-dominated House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a redistricting bill aimed at garnering five new congressional seats for Republicans in the US midterm elections next year.

The state House passed the redrawn congressional map by a vote of 88 to 52 along party lines.

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The vote came after a two-week delay when more than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers stayed out of the state in protest against the rare mid-decade redistricting plan.