In a better-together-states kind of move, a pack Texas House Democrats have just gone AWOL to Illinois. They hope to stop the Republican majority’s plans to gerrymander new congressional maps in Texas. Democrats, led by Democratic caucus chair Gene Wu, are moving with urgency and purpose. They hope these moves will help protect the interests of Texans as the 2026 midterm elections draw closer.
In an impressive gamble by the Texas Democrats, they fled their state. Their goal was to prevent the legislature from reaching the quorum necessary to vote on a new redistricting plan. This is the latest proposal Texas Republicans have advanced. It would further likely increase the size of the Republican U.S. House of Representatives delegation by up to five additional seats. His counterpart in Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott, has threatened harsh punishments on the AWOL Democrats. He threatened to expel them from the state House if they haven’t returned by Monday at 3 p.m. CT.
“We’re leaving Texas to fight for Texans,” Wu stated, underscoring the determination of his colleagues to stand against what they perceive as an unjust political maneuver.
As soon as they touched down in Illinois, the Democrats were greeted with well-wishes by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. He has promised to protect them from any potential prosecution as well. On top of that, he’s working with each of them to provide accommodations and space to meet. Pritzker hailed their departure as “a noble and rightful act of courage,” underscoring the mission-driven nature of their work.
“We’re going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that – ’cause we know they’re doing the right thing, we know that they’re following the law,” – JB Pritzker.
Texas Democrats have already started raising money off of Democratic megadonors. They even intend to use the expected fines they will have to pay as part of their strategy. Under new regulations adopted in 2021, state residents who travel outside Florida could face a $500-a-day penalty. For these 50, their moment is now— their situation is urgent. Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have threatened to arrest any Democrat who doesn’t return in short order.
Though a large number of Texas Democrats now reside in Illinois, some have gone above and beyond in their efforts to advocate. They are attending the National Conference of State Legislatures in Boston this week, while others are meeting with New York Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany.
Pritzker criticized the redistricting proposal, asserting that it would “steal five congressional seats, silencing millions of voices, especially Black and Latino voters.” He condemned the broader implications of such actions, stating, “Let’s be clear, this is not just rigging the system in Texas; it’s about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come.”
The stakes could not be higher as these dangerous political maneuvers continue to unfold. Even former President Donald Trump seemed convinced of the Republican strategy. He writes that states such as Texas could receive the lion’s share of new seats enabled by the redistricting process.
“Just a very simple redrawing, we pick up five seats,” – Donald Trump.
Tensions are reaching a boiling point between Texas’ Democrats and GOP leadership. The ramifications of this standoff will be felt in state and national politics for years to come. Both coalitions have dug in on their respective sides of the dispute. The next few days will determine whether Texas Democrats will be able to successfully thwart the proposed changes or whether they will be further punished for taking a stand.