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Texas Democrats flee the state to block controversial redistricting vote
In a dramatic political standoff, Texas Democratic lawmakers have fled their state to prevent a vote on a redistricting bill that could significantly reshape the U.S. Congress by favoring Republican interests.
On Monday, the Texas House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on a controversial bill aiming to redraw the state’s 38 congressional districts. Republicans, who control the state legislature, hope to use redistricting—commonly referred to as gerrymandering—to dilute Democratic votes, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities, and potentially gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 midterms.
In response, Democratic legislators, who lack the numbers to block the vote within the chamber, left Texas on Sunday. Their absence denies the legislature the quorum needed to proceed. They regrouped in Chicago, Illinois, where they held a press conference to justify their actions.
"This wasn’t a decision we made lightly," said Gene Wu, Democratic minority leader in the Texas House. He condemned the proposed electoral map as “intentionally racist” and accused Republican Governor Greg Abbott of being submissive to Donald Trump.
Governor Abbott, in turn, criticized the Democrats’ move as “premeditated and illegal” and threatened to strip them of their office if they failed to return by Monday—a power he legally does not possess.
The political battle over redistricting in Texas could have national consequences. In response, several Democratic governors, including California’s Gavin Newsom, announced they would explore similar redistricting measures. However, unlike Texas, many Democrat-led states have built-in legislative or constitutional safeguards that complicate the redrawing of electoral maps, making it difficult to offset the GOP advantage gained through states like Texas, Ohio, or Missouri.