Texas – US
A political standoff has erupted in Texas after dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled the state over the weekend in a last-resort effort to prevent the passage of a new congressional redistricting map. The move, which denies the Republican-controlled House the quorum needed to conduct business, has halted the legislative process and sparked a national political battle.
The proposed redistricting plan, which was fast-tracked by Republican leadership at the urging of President Donald Trump, aims to create five new Republican-leaning congressional seats in Texas before the 2026 midterm elections. The current map has 25 Republican seats to 13 Democratic seats, and the new plan would increase the number of districts that Trump would have won by at least 10 percentage points.
By leaving the state, the Democratic lawmakers have temporarily prevented a vote on the new map. Many have traveled to Illinois, where they were met by Governor J.B. Pritzker, while others have gone to New York and Boston. The decision to break quorum is a tactic that Texas Democrats have used before, with mixed success.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders have reacted with strong condemnation, accusing the Democrats of “dereliction of duty” and abandoning their constituents. The Texas House has already voted to issue civil arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers to compel their return. Governor Abbott has also threatened to remove the lawmakers from office if they do not return, though a similar threat in 2021 did not result in arrests.
The redistricting plan has been criticized by Democrats for targeting urban and suburban districts with growing minority populations and for suppressing the votes of people of color. The political fight in Texas is seen as part of a broader national effort by Republicans to secure their slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the midterms.
