Texas Dems to flee state amid national redistricting battle

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

08/03/2025 03:57 PM EDT
Updated: 08/03/2025 03:58 PM EDT


Dozens of Texas Democrats plan to flee the state amid a special session Sunday afternoon, making a last-ditch effort to disrupt a mid-decade redistricting attempt forced by President Donald Trump, according to two people briefed on the matter.

It marks their second act of breaking quorum — when the state House will lack the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business — since 2021. And it comes as the party scrambles to counter the aggressive action in Texas, intended to keep Republicans in power in Congress next year by creating five GOP-friendly seats in the state.

Four years ago, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for the arrest of fleeing lawmakers upon their return to their state.

Sunday’s move will almost certainly set off a nationwide redistricting arms race that threatens to upend the 2026 midterm election map.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/03/democrats-flee-texas-redistricting-00491487

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Looks like GAME ON.

REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143506429

[FadedMullet]

1. Does anyone remember Tom Delay and his dreams of "a permanent Republican majority"? Yeah. Same shit.

[pat_k]

8. Of course!

Below is the high-level recap included in the NY Times article "Texas Dems to flee state amid national redistricting battle"

The first major showdown in Texas over redistricting came in 2003 when Republicans in Washington, led by Representative Tom DeLay, the U.S. House majority leader, pushed for a mid-decade redistricting. At the time, Democrats still held a majority of the seats in the Texas congressional delegation, even though Republicans had begun to dominate in statewide races.

Texas Republicans, who had achieved majorities in both houses of the Legislature for the first time, introduced new maps intended to flip many of the Democratic-held seats.

The fight over the new maps was bruising. Democratic lawmakers left, first from the Texas House, to try to halt progress there. Then, in a special session, Democrats in the Texas Senate staged their own walkout and hid out in New Mexico for more than five weeks.

The effort ended when John Whitmire, then a state senator, returned to Austin. The new maps were adopted soon afterward, and Republicans succeeded in gaining a majority of the state’s seats in the U.S. House in the 2004 election, an advantage they have retained ever since.

Paywall free link to the entire article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/us/texas-democrats-walkout-redistricting-map-gop.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bU8.Edky.gm5S0XlF1m1f&smid=url-share

[FadedMullet]

13. Thanks for the refresher. Good times. Those Texas Dems infuriated the Repubs. Time for Act Two.

[mzmolly]

2. Keep up the good fight

Texas Dems!

[NoPasaran]

3. It's happening as we speak

Got an email from Representative John Bucy:

I’m writing from a flight headed to Chicago — because today, Texas Democrats are breaking quorum to protect our democracy.

Greg Abbott and Donald Trump are trying to use this special session — just weeks after deadly floods devastated Texas — to rig the 2026 midterm with a redistricting plan that hands Trump five more seats in Congress.

We’re not letting it happen quietly. We tried the hearings, the testimony, and the negotiations — when that wasn’t enough, we used the next tool in our toolbox.

We’re not running away. We’re running into the fight.

[pat_k]

7. Yes!! Too many American's have no idea this is happening.

They have no choice but to do this.

The vows from Newsome, Pritzker, and Hochul to respond in kind if Texas goes forward have gotten some reporting, but a vast majority of Americans only have some vague idea that something it happening. This is their best shot at putting a national spotlight on how appalling this move by TX Republicans-- demanded by the 47 regime -- actually is.

As it escalates -- as the 47 regime attempts to unlawfully engage Feds to "hunt them down" (as Paxton threatens); as they denounce other states for failing to recognize the civil warrants they issue; more eyes will be on this. The WHY will be part of every national news story.

Like everything else the 47 regime is doing, as people find out what is actually going on, they deeply disapprove.

[bluestarone]

4. AWESOME news!! Way to go Texas Dems!!

Maybe our huge fight could start now because of these great Democrats in Texas,!!!

[wolfie001]

5. I wish they could form a posse and roll "Hot Wheels" into the Gulf of Mexico

And his cycloptic Att. Gen. too!!!

[pat_k]

6. Great to see! And some links (Democracy Docket analysis & 7/25 "The People v. The Power Grab" rally highlights)

More on the ins and outs -- possible civil arrest, threats from Paxton to unlawfully engage federal authorities to "hunt them down" in other states, and more from Democracy Docket:

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/can-texas-democrats-stop-the-redistricting-by-breaking-quorum/

---------------------------
And for anyone who missed the inspiring "The People v. The Power Grab" rally on 7/25, you'll find links to a couple highlights and the entire event with time codes for speakers here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220524919

-----------------------------
Also, here's a paywall free link to a NYTimes article on this:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/us/texas-democrats-walkout-redistricting-map-gop.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bU8.Edky.gm5S0XlF1m1f&smid=url-share

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. Abbot is threatening to try to remove these legislators from office

Abbott is relying on a Paxton legal opinion that may not be clear

Link to tweet

I have not read the Paxton legal opinion yet but I doubt that Abbott can remove these legislators without going to court

[pat_k]

16. The MAGA captive judiciary could issue a rulling contrary to law. However,

the legislators have clearly NOT abandoned their duty.

They have made it perfectly clear that the are acting in accord with their duty and right as legislators to block the establishment of a quorum, and thereby block a corrupt scheme to thwart the will of the voters of Texas -- and by extension, the will of the voters across the nation.

What they are doing is a moral imperative, and furthermore, their constituents support them in this.

The latest on this from Democracy Docket:

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-ag-will-ask-courts-to-vacate-seats-of-democrats-halting-gop-map/

[orangecrush]

9. I like courageous Democrats

[CapnSteve]

10. The "Killer Ds" ride again!

Godspeed, patriots!

Rural Republicans are ready to revolt here - Trump's and Abbot's GOP has abandoned the people and what they want.

[WestMichRad]

11. Will TSF sic ICE on the fleeing Dem reps?

Would presumably be illegal as hell, but why would that stop ‘em?

[GenThePerservering]

12. Sorry, but "flee"?

what kind of weak sauce sorry azz description is that? How about walk out?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. Governor Pritzker is putting the Texas Democrats up in one of his hotels free of charge

Link to tweet