Texas Democrats Flee State to Block GOP Redistricting; Abbott Vows Removal

Over 50 Texas Democrats left the state on Sunday in a dramatic move to block a Republican-led vote on a new congressional district map. The controversial plan, backed by former President Donald Trump, could give the GOP up to five additional seats in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Why It Matters

Democrats argue the redistricting proposal is designed to weaken minority voting power, calling the map “intentionally racist.” Their departure also delays crucial legislative business, including a special session on flood relief for victims of the July 4 Central Texas floods.

Republican Response

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) issued a sharp warning, saying he will remove absent Democrats from the Texas House if they fail to return by Monday afternoon. Abbott declared, “This truancy ends now.”

• He further accused Democrats of abandoning their duties and suggested they could face felony charges if they solicited funds to avoid daily fines of $500 each for breaking quorum.

• Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) threatened to “hunt down” the Democrats and use extradition powers to bring them back.

Democrats Defend Their Move

At a press briefing in Chicago with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu pushed back against Abbott’s threats. Wu said Abbott was “turning flood victims into political hostages” at the request of Trump, while accusing Republicans of trying to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans.

“We’re not walking out on our responsibilities,” Wu stated. “We’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people.”

Wu also noted that Abbott has “no authority” to send state troopers to Illinois but admitted, “We don’t know what Donald Trump is going to do.”

Support From Democratic Leaders

• Gov. JB Pritzker vowed to support the Texas Democrats, calling the move a fight for democracy nationwide.

• DNC Chair Ken Martin promised that the Democratic National Committee would “fight alongside Texas Democrats to stop this anti-democratic assault.”

Historical Context

This isn’t the first time Texas House Democrats have fled the state:

• In 2021, they went to Washington, D.C., to block voting restrictions.

• In 2003, they traveled to Oklahoma to delay a redistricting bill.
  Both efforts ultimately failed to stop the laws but did delay their passage.

What’s Next

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) confirmed the session will go forward Monday. If a quorum is not met, he warned that “all options will be on the table.” Any attempt to expel or extradite the Democrats is likely to face a legal challenge.