The battle over potential mid-decade redistricting in Texas — the place the state’s congressional district strains could be redrawn nicely forward of the upcoming census — continued Monday as dozens of Texas Home Democrats remained out of state for a second week to dam any potential votes on the map.
In Austin, the Texas Home of Representatives is scheduled to satisfy and the redistricting invoice is technically scheduled for a second studying (which might not be a vote to go it out of the chamber). However this can’t occur without a quorum present; Republican legislators might strive for an additional roll name vote to see in the event that they nonetheless should not have a quorum.
The Texas Senate can also be scheduled to satisfy and should vote by itself model of redistricting laws, though if it votes the invoice out of the Senate it can’t be voted on within the Home till there’s a quorum.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton, individually, escalated legal efforts final week to get Democrats again to Texas or examine who’s funding their efforts.
The Texas Capitol is seen on August 04, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Photographs
Abbott has additionally stated he’ll name particular legislative session after particular session to get the Republican-supported maps handed, even when Democrats run out the 30-day clock on the present session.
On this Feb. 5, 2025, file photograph, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to reporters exterior the West Wing of the White Home, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Alex Brandon/AP, FILE
“I am licensed to name a particular session each 30 days. It lasts 30 days, and as quickly as this one is over, I will name one other one, then one other one, then one other one, then one other one. In the event that they present again up within the state of Texas, they are going to be arrested and brought to the Capitol,” he advised Fox Information in an interview on Sunday.
“In the event that they wish to evade that arrest, they’ll keep exterior of the state of Texas for actually years, and so they would possibly as nicely simply begin voting in California or voting in Illinois, wherever they might be,” he continued.
However Democrats are additionally happening the offensive. Eric Holder, a former legal professional basic and present chair of the Nationwide Democratic Redistricting Committee, is ready to discuss redistricting with U.S. Home Democrats on Wednesday.
Texas Democratic state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. speaks throughout a press convention held by Texas Democratic lawmakers after leaving the state to disclaim Republicans the quorum wanted to redraw Texas’ 38 congressional districts, in Aurora, Sick., Aug. 5, 2025.
Tom Krawczyk/Reuters
In California, legislators have stated they count on to unveil proposed new congressional maps this week that may go in entrance of voters for approval in a particular election in November. However working a statewide election with comparatively little discover will likely be a problem, the Secretary of State’s workplace has stated.
On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom despatched a letter to Trump saying it could drop its potential plans if different states would do the identical.
“You might be enjoying with fireplace, risking the destabilization of our democracy, whereas figuring out that California can neutralize any beneficial properties you hope to make,” Newsom wrote. Individually, governors in Florida, Indiana, and Missouri have indicated curiosity in potential mid-decade redistricting.
Among the Texas Home Democrats who’ve damaged quorum will likely be showing at pressers in Illinois on Monday excoriating the continued efforts to redraw the maps.
Throughout an interview with NBC Information on Sunday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker took pleasure in housing Texas Democrats, calling President Donald Trump a ‘cheater.’
“[Republicans] know that they’ll lose in 2026, the congress, and they also’re making an attempt to steal seats, and so that’s what these Texas Democrats are attempting to face up in opposition to after which do not forget. The map that they put collectively, it violates the voting rights act and it violates the structure,” Pritzker stated.
