According to recent reports, Texas House Democrats left the state in an effort to block a redistricting vote. They believe the legislation is discriminatory and aims to suppress the voices of Black and Latino voters in Texas.
Republicans are unable to proceed with the vote due to the absence of Democrats, preventing the passage of redistricting legislation that could result in five new GOP U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
State Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, stated, “This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity.”
The majority of House Democrats traveled to Chicago, while others went to New York and Boston. The Texas House requires a presence of at least 100 members out of the 150-member chamber to conduct business, and with roughly 50 Democrats missing, the vote is at a standstill.
The redistricting legislation aims to shift Democratic voters into more Republican-leaning districts and vice versa, potentially leading to an increase in GOP seats.
This is not the first time Democrats have left the state in protest. In July 2021, over 50 Democrats traveled to Washington, D.C., to oppose new voting restrictions in Texas following the 2020 election.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest the Democrats who left the state if they do not return by 3 p.m. Monday. However, there is no indication of when they plan to go back.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has expressed support for the Texas Democrats, calling their actions a “righteous act of courage” in defense of Black and Latino voters.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
