Texas House Standoff Continues Over GOP Redistricting Plan

The Texas House of Representatives once again failed to reach a quorum Friday, as Democratic lawmakers extended their walkout to block a Republican-backed congressional redistricting bill. The ongoing protest, now lasting several weeks, has stalled not only the redistricting process but also delayed key legislation, including vital disaster relief funding after severe flooding in Hill County claimed over 130 lives.

Governor Greg Abbott responded immediately by calling a second special session to begin at noon, reiterating his commitment to passing new GOP-drawn congressional maps. These proposed maps are expected to create up to five Republican-leaning districts while dismantling some Democratic ones. “There will be no reprieve for the derelict Democrats,” Abbott stated, emphasizing that he will continue calling special sessions until his agenda is passed.

To prevent the House from conducting business, Democratic members fled to states like Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, avoiding the two-thirds attendance requirement. Texas authorities issued civil arrest warrants and imposed fines of up to $500 per day, but legal action has so far failed. An Illinois judge dismissed a petition to enforce the warrants, citing a lack of jurisdiction over nonresident lawmakers temporarily in the state.

House Democratic leader Rep. Gene Wu said members would return after the current session ends and pledged to fight the redistricting plan in court. Wu called the proposed maps “racist,” arguing they would silence over 2 million Black and Latino voters across Texas.

In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a rare midterm redistricting effort in his own state, aiming to create five new Democrat-friendly districts. While he framed it as retaliation against Texas’s plan, critics noted California is already gerrymandered to favor Democrats. The redistricting showdown now stretches beyond Texas, sparking national debate and potential legal battles.