As Republicans move to redraw legislative maps in red states to pad their narrow House majority in Washington, some Democrats are rethinking their embrace of a nonpartisan approach to line-drawing that now complicates their party's ability to hit back before next year's midterm elections.

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

The proposal would redraw district lines in ways that target current Democratic members of Congress in districts in South Texas and around Austin, Dallas and Houston.