Dozens of Texas Democratic lawmakers have fled the state to block a Republican-led redistricting proposal that could shift five congressional seats toward the GOP, bolstering their slim U.S. House majority ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Fifty-one Democrats left Texas, most headed to Illinois, to prevent a quorum in the state legislature, halting a special session convened by Governor Greg Abbott.
"We're not walking out on our responsibilities," said State Representative Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. "We're walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent."
Under Texas law, two-thirds of the 150-member House must be present to conduct business. The Democrats’ departure denies Republicans that threshold.
The proposed congressional map would increase Republican-leaning seats from 25 to 30, redrawing boundaries in Austin, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley. Republicans say the plan reflects shifting population trends.
"It’s a good plan for Texas," said State Representative Todd Hunter (R).
Critics argue it’s a partisan power grab. The redistricting comes mid-decade, just five years after the 2020 Census. President Donald Trump has publicly pressured Texas lawmakers to revise the map, viewing the state as key to regaining control of Congress.
Governor Abbott has threatened punitive measures. “I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons,” he said in a statement.
Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed that, calling the Democrats “cowards” and to, “Use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.”
The lawmakers face fines of $500 per day while absent. This marks the third time in recent decades Texas Democrats have fled the state to block GOP-led legislation—in 2003, it was to stop redistricting, and in 2021, to delay election law changes.
Despite support from national Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who praised the lawmakers for their “courage, conviction, and character,” Democrats in other states face scrutiny over their own gerrymandering tactics. Illinois, for example, received an "F" from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project for its heavily partisan map.
As Republicans aim to cement their hold on Texas, Democrats say their protest is about protecting fair representation.
“We will not be complicit,” Wu said. “This is about preserving democracy in the face of corruption.”
