In a dramatic move, Texas Democratic lawmakers have left the state to prevent a vote on a new congressional map that heavily favors Republicans and is supported by former President Trump. With 51 legislators currently absent, Texas Republicans may struggle to secure a quorum for the contentious issue amid threats of legal action against the Democrats.
Democrats Escape Texas to Thwart Republican Redistricting Effort Backed by Trump
Democrats Escape Texas to Thwart Republican Redistricting Effort Backed by Trump
A group of Texas Democrats has fled the state to block a proposed redistricting map favoring Republicans, igniting a political battle ahead of the midterm elections.
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Democratic state lawmakers in Texas have taken the unprecedented step of fleeing the state in a bid to obstruct a vote on a controversial new congressional map that they argue is designed to unfairly benefit Republicans. The map, which was unveiled by the state’s Republican majority and has garnered the support of former President Donald Trump, is predicted to create five additional Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives.
Texas law requires that two-thirds of the 150-member legislature be present to conduct a vote. As a result, the absence of 51 Democratic lawmakers—most of whom have retreated to Illinois—has left Republicans without a quorum, thus halting the legislative process. The Democrats have indicated that they plan to remain absent for up to two weeks during a special legislative session called by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, which also seeks to address disaster relief following severe Texas floods and propose a ban on THC, the active compound in marijuana.
The absent Democrats are facing potential fines of $500 per day for their absence, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened to use law enforcement to bring them back, labeling their actions as a cowardly escape from responsibility. "The state should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law," Paxton expressed on social media.
In defense of their actions, Gene Wu, chairman of the Democratic caucus, asserted, "We’re not walking out on our responsibilities; we’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent." While a number of Democrats nationwide have discussed retaliatory tactics for redistricting, many of their options are limited, particularly in states where Democrats have previously employed gerrymandering tactics in their favor.
Currently, Texas Republicans hold 25 out of the 38 congressional districts, and the proposed new maps aim to bolster that number potentially to 30, focusing on regions Trump won by a margin of at least 10 points in the recent elections. Key proposed changes include redistricting efforts in the Rio Grande Valley and the merging of districts in Austin currently represented by Democrats, as well as adjustments to Houston-area districts.
Todd Hunter, a Republican legislator who spearheaded the redistricting measure, praised the proposal as "a good plan for Texas." This marks the latest instance of Texas Democrats employing a walkout to stall Republican initiatives; previous such efforts have occurred in 2021 and 2003 with varied levels of success.
The redistricting process, taking place every decade to adapt to demographic shifts, has sparked a heated political climate in the Lone Star State, particularly with the upcoming midterm elections looming, making the stakes considerably high in terms of Congressional representation.
Democratic state lawmakers in Texas have taken the unprecedented step of fleeing the state in a bid to obstruct a vote on a controversial new congressional map that they argue is designed to unfairly benefit Republicans. The map, which was unveiled by the state’s Republican majority and has garnered the support of former President Donald Trump, is predicted to create five additional Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives.
Texas law requires that two-thirds of the 150-member legislature be present to conduct a vote. As a result, the absence of 51 Democratic lawmakers—most of whom have retreated to Illinois—has left Republicans without a quorum, thus halting the legislative process. The Democrats have indicated that they plan to remain absent for up to two weeks during a special legislative session called by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, which also seeks to address disaster relief following severe Texas floods and propose a ban on THC, the active compound in marijuana.
The absent Democrats are facing potential fines of $500 per day for their absence, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened to use law enforcement to bring them back, labeling their actions as a cowardly escape from responsibility. "The state should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law," Paxton expressed on social media.
In defense of their actions, Gene Wu, chairman of the Democratic caucus, asserted, "We’re not walking out on our responsibilities; we’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent." While a number of Democrats nationwide have discussed retaliatory tactics for redistricting, many of their options are limited, particularly in states where Democrats have previously employed gerrymandering tactics in their favor.
Currently, Texas Republicans hold 25 out of the 38 congressional districts, and the proposed new maps aim to bolster that number potentially to 30, focusing on regions Trump won by a margin of at least 10 points in the recent elections. Key proposed changes include redistricting efforts in the Rio Grande Valley and the merging of districts in Austin currently represented by Democrats, as well as adjustments to Houston-area districts.
Todd Hunter, a Republican legislator who spearheaded the redistricting measure, praised the proposal as "a good plan for Texas." This marks the latest instance of Texas Democrats employing a walkout to stall Republican initiatives; previous such efforts have occurred in 2021 and 2003 with varied levels of success.
The redistricting process, taking place every decade to adapt to demographic shifts, has sparked a heated political climate in the Lone Star State, particularly with the upcoming midterm elections looming, making the stakes considerably high in terms of Congressional representation.
