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Democrats flee Texas to block Republican redistricting map backed by Trump

August 4, 2025

In Texas, 51 Democratic state lawmakers have fled to Illinois to prevent a vote on a controversial redistricting plan proposed by the Republican majority that would create five new Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Governor Greg Abbott has convened a special legislative session that requires a two-thirds quorum to approve the new congressional map, along with disaster relief and a THC ban. Republican officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, have threatened to fine, arrest, and remove from office the absent Democrats, who plan to stay away for two weeks until the special session ends.

Who is affected

  • Texas residents whose congressional representation would change
  • The 51 Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas
  • Current Democratic U.S. Representatives (Julie Johnson, Al Green) whose districts would be redrawn
  • Texas Republicans who currently hold 25 of 38 congressional seats
  • U.S. House of Representatives members, where Republicans hold a slim majority
  • Voters in the Rio Grande Valley, Austin, northern Texas, and Houston areas

What action is being taken

  • Democratic state lawmakers are fleeing Texas to deny Republicans the quorum needed for a vote
  • Governor Greg Abbott is conducting a special legislative session for redistricting, disaster relief, and THC ban
  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is threatening to arrest absent lawmakers
  • Republicans are imposing $500 daily fines on absent Democratic lawmakers
  • National Democratic figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are supporting the Texas Democrats' actions

Why it matters

  • The proposed redistricting would create five new Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House
  • Republicans could increase their Texas congressional representation from 25 to 30 seats
  • The new map would affect several Democratic-held districts, including those in the Rio Grande Valley, Austin, northern Texas, and Houston
  • This redistricting could help Republicans strengthen their slim majority in the House of Representatives
  • Redrawing district lines mid-decade (between the standard 10-year census cycles) is unusual
  • This represents the third time in recent years that Texas Democrats have fled the state to block Republican legislation

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC