Texas Democrats Try to Block Vote on Redistricting

(Patria) - Democratic lawmakers in Texas said on Sunday they are leaving the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed for redistricting 38 congressional districts, a move aimed at protecting Republicans' narrow majority in the House of Representatives in next year's midterm elections.

President Donald Trump supported the redistricting plan, telling reporters he expects it to bring as many as five additional Republicans to the House of Representatives. Republicans have a narrow 220-to-212 majority in the House of Representatives, with three seats held by Democrats vacant after the deaths of members, Reuters reminds.

In a video recorded outside the airport, Democratic Representative James Talarico said the redistricting plan represents "rigging" the 2026 elections.

"If you are watching this video, my Democratic colleagues and I have just left our beloved state to break quorum and stop Trump's redistricting," Talarico said in a video posted on social media X on Sunday.

Several other Democrats said on X that they are going to Illinois, whose governor is Democrat J.B. Pritzker.

States are required to redraw electoral districts every ten years based on the U.S. Census, but the Texas map was adopted just four years ago by a Republican-dominated legislature. Although mid-cycle redistricting occasionally occurs, it is usually prompted by a change in power in the legislature.

Republicans advocated for redistricting at a special legislative session that will also address funding for flood prevention following deadly flash floods on July 4 that killed more than 130 people.

Under current arrangements, Republicans control 25 seats, almost two-thirds of the state's districts, which last year went to Trump by a margin of 56% to 42%.

Redistricting experts said the plan could backfire if Republicans try to gain too many seats from what is already considered a significantly altered map.