Texas Democrats left the state on Monday in a bid to prevent the legislature from voting on a new congressional map.
This unexpected move could expose them to fines and potentially other penalties. The state’s attorney general had previously threatened to arrest them if they tried such actions. However, skipping legislative sessions is considered a civil offense, meaning legal imprisonment isn’t possible, and it’s unclear who would actually enforce any warrants.
Democrats chose to vacate the state as a last-ditch effort to stop Republicans, who currently control Texas government, from moving forward with redistricting plans that some critics describe as unusual and influenced by former President Donald Trump.
“This is not a decision we take lightly, but it’s made with a clear moral stance,” said House Democrat Caucus Chairman Jean Wu in a statement.
For the official vote to proceed, at least 100 of the 150 members need to be present. The Democrats hold 62 seats in a legislature dominated by Republicans.
According to House Democrat spokesman Josh Rush Nisenson, at least 51 Democrats have left the state.
“Indifference is complicity, and we refuse to ignore the hardworking community that has fought for decades against the power Trump wants to seize,” he stated.
This marks the second time in four years that Texas Democrats have fled the state to block votes. In 2021, they engaged in a prolonged standoff, leaving for Washington, D.C. to oppose new voting restrictions.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott convened a special session of Congress last month in response to severe flooding in Texas Hill Country that resulted in at least 135 deaths in July.
Trump has urged Texas Republicans to redraw the map, hoping to gain several seats in the upcoming elections.
“If Texas Republicans are looking for a showdown—if they want to delay flood relief just to protect Trump from a political fallout, then we are ready for that showdown,” remarked Democratic party chairman Ken Martin. “That’s precisely what Texas Democrats aimed to do today: disrupt a fabricated special session while ignoring the plight of Kerr County flood victims.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton suggested the state should use all necessary measures to address those who believe they are above the law.
“Democrats who try to escape like cowards should be brought back to the Capitol soon,” he commented.
Neither Abbott’s office nor House Speaker Dustin Burrows responded to inquiries on Sunday afternoon.
Recently, Texas Republicans revealed a proposed new congressional map aimed at creating five Republican-leaning seats, with the party currently holding 25 out of 38 seats in the state.
By leaving, Democrats are attempting to block Republicans from achieving the quorum needed to vote on the map. Texas legislative rules allow for fines of $500 a day for absentees. Paxton earlier indicated that if Democrats avoid quorum, they should be tracked down and arrested.
“My office stands ready to assist in locating and appealing to those who abandon their responsibilities for cheap political theatrics,” Paxton stated on social media.
Most Texas Democrats are heading to Illinois. There, Governor J.B. Pritzker has been quietly coordinating support if they choose to leave the state to break quorum. Pritzker, who is a 2028 presidential candidate and a vocal critic of Trump during his presidency, recently hosted several Texas Democrats in Illinois to publicly oppose the redistricting efforts. California Governor Gavin Newsom held a similar gathering in his state.
Pritzker also met with Texas Democratic Chairman Kendall Scudder in June and is making plans should lawmakers decide to head to Illinois to block the congressional map.
This might set the stage for a significant confrontation between Pritzker and Trump, as Texas Democrats aim to thwart the Trump-backed congressional redistricting.
Trump is eager to avoid a repeat of his first term when Democrats flipped the House just two years into his presidency, and he’s counting on the new Texas map to support his efforts. Conversations about similar redistricting in other states, like Missouri, have been reported by sources familiar with the discussions but who cannot speak publicly.
