Texas Democrats Return, Clearing Way for GOP to Advance Congressional Redistricting

Texas Democrats in the state legislature, who had left the state to block an aggressive redistricting effort, ended their two-week walkout on Monday by returning to Austin. Their return paves the way for Republicans to approve a new congressional district map supported by former President Donald Trump.

Throughout the Democrats’ absence, Texas Republican leaders responded with intense measures to compel their return. Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits seeking to remove the absent Democrats. Senator John Cornyn enlisted the FBI to assist in locating them. Meanwhile, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued civil arrest warrants and threatened daily fines of $500 under House rules.

Ultimately, the Democrats announced their decision to return after successfully blocking a vote during an initial special legislative session. Their walkout brought national attention to President Trump’s mid-decade redistricting push and inspired Democratic-led states to pursue their own redistricting initiatives.

On the same day, California lawmakers introduced legislation to redraw the state’s congressional map to favor Democrats, a direct countermeasure to the changes underway in Texas, championed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The proposal is expected to be voted on Thursday.

The standoff began on August 3, when dozens of Texas Democratic representatives boarded a chartered flight to Chicago. It concluded similarly, with a large group of Democrats flying back together to Austin.