Parenting while protecting democracy: The moms who fled the Texas legislature

August 6, 2025

Texas House Democrats have fled the state to block Republicans from passing a new voting map that would flip five Democratic U.S. House seats to Republican control. The move comes after Texas Republicans released redistricting plans that Democrats claim were requested by former President Trump's White House. Over 50 Democratic lawmakers traveled to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to deny Republicans the quorum needed to approve the new congressional map during a special legislative session.

Who is affected

Texas voters, particularly those in districts targeted for redistricting
The five Democratic U.S. House members whose seats would be flipped under the new map
Texas Democratic state lawmakers who have left the state and face $500 daily fines
Families of the lawmakers, including children separated from parents during this action
Democratic lawmakers in other states being urged to respond with their own redistricting
The broader U.S. electorate if House representation becomes disproportionate

What action is being taken

Texas Democratic lawmakers are leaving the state to break quorum and prevent a vote on the new map
The Texas House has voted 85-6 to issue arrest warrants for the absent Democrats
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is threatening to ask a court to declare their seats vacant if they don't return by Friday
U.S. Senator John Cornyn has asked the FBI to intervene
The absent lawmakers are conducting "outreach" in Democratic-led states to encourage responsive redistricting
Lawmakers are facing $500 daily fines for each day they miss the special session

Why it matters

The redistricting effort could flip five Democratic U.S. House seats to Republican control
Democrats argue this is a White House-driven push to shore up Republicans' slim House majority
The lawmakers warn that these "mid-decade redistrictings" may violate state constitutions
Democratic control of the House is seen as essential for potential presidential accountability through impeachment processes
The Texas effort could inspire similar redistricting in other Republican-led states, with Missouri already considering it
The outcome could affect whether the House majority accurately reflects the overall electorate

What's next

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will ask a court to declare the Democrats' seats vacant if they don't return by Friday
The absent lawmakers will continue to face $500 daily fines for missing the special session
Some lawmakers are preparing for a potentially extended absence, with Rep. Linda Garcia ready to enroll her son in Illinois schools or homeschool him

Read full article from source: The 19th