Democrats leave Texas to prevent Republicans redistricting map backed by Trump

The 150-member Texas House requires at least two-thirds of the members to be present in order to conduct the voting. However, 51 Democratic leaders left for Chicago, denying Republicans the required number for the quorum to hold a vote.

The Democratic lawmakers have reportedly said they would steer away from the state for at least two weeks until the end of a special legislative session convened by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott for the voting.

Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.

We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 3, 2025

The redistricting of the Texas state legislature, if passed, would potentially remove five Democratic seats in the House of Representatives ahead of the mid term elections in 2026, which could aid the Republicans to hold on to their slim majority in the house.

Texas state legislator and chairman of the Democratic caucus Gene Wu criticised the move by Republicans to hold a vote on redistricting and said “We’re not walking out on our responsibilities. We’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent,” BBC reported.

Texas’ attorney general and a potential candidate for US Senate, Ken Paxton, said on Sunday evening that “Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.”

Texas Republicans, while defending their move, have argued that redistricting is required over concerns that the current maps unconstitutional and racially gerrymandered.