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Texas Republicans vote to arrest Democrats blocking redistricting plan

August 5, 2025

Texas Republicans have called for the arrest of more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled to Illinois to prevent a vote on redistricting legislation by breaking quorum in the state legislature. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state troopers to locate and return the absent Democrats to the House chamber, while also threatening to charge them with bribery if they raised public money to cover their daily $500 fines. The proposed redistricting plan would create five additional Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially increasing Texas Republicans' representation from 25 to 30 seats.

Who is affected

  • More than 50 Democratic Texas state lawmakers who fled to Illinois
  • Texas voters whose congressional districts would be redrawn
  • The Texas state legislature, which cannot proceed without a quorum
  • Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives who could gain additional seats
  • Texas taxpayers and citizens affected by the legislative stalemate

What action is being taken

  • Texas House members are voting to issue arrest warrants for absent Democrats
  • Governor Abbott is ordering state troopers to locate and return absent lawmakers
  • Democrats are remaining in Illinois to break quorum for the two-week special session
  • Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is offering protection to the Texas Democrats
  • The Texas Department of Public Safety is being directed to find the absent lawmakers

Why it matters

  • The redistricting plan would create five more Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
  • It could increase Texas Republicans' representation from 25 to 30 seats out of 38 total
  • The redrawn districts would all be in constituencies that President Trump won by at least 10 points
  • The redistricting could help strengthen the slim Republican majority in the U.S. House ahead of midterm elections
  • The conflict highlights partisan approaches to redistricting across different states

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC