An Afghanistan War veteran, Black conservative, and Republican leader sparked backlash at a heated Texas redistricting hearing, defending the GOP-led effort to redraw the state’s political map and denouncing claims of systemic racism.

Texas Republicans are banking on the GOP’s gains among Hispanic and Latino voters in recent elections, seeking to create four Republican-leaning, majority-Hispanic districts in the state in their mid-decade redistricting proposal.

The new proposed lines would also prevent few, if any, opportunities for Democrats hoping that an aggressive gerrymander could backfire on Republicans.