Senate Republicans surprised everyone Monday by ramming through a vote for new district maps that improve their political fortunes, winning majority of support for it because a Democratic lawmaker was attending the inauguration.

The power play occurred when Sen. John Watkins, R-Midlothian, introduced a bill amendment that significantly redraws Senate district boundaries so Republicans can potentially pick up an additional seat in the 2015 elections. The new map means two senators — Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Emmett Hanger — will have their districts combined.