HOUSTON: Dozens of Democratic legislators who fled Texas to halt an aggressive redistricting drive ended their two-week standoff on Monday, clearing the way for a new electoral map pushed by Republican President Donald Trump.
With their return, the Texas House now has enough lawmakers to form a quorum and approve a map that carves out five new Republican-friendly US congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
More than 50 Democrats had stalled legislative business with their walk-out, which took them across the country and garnered national headlines as they sought to draw attention to the rare mid-decade redistricting push.
“When Republicans tried to silence minority voters through racist gerrymandering, Texas House Democrats answered the call,” the Texas House Democratic Caucus said in a statement on the legislators’ return.
“After rallying Americans to join this existential battle for democracy, we’re returning to Texas on our terms — ready to build the legal record needed to defeat these unconstitutional maps in court. The fight continues.”
The moves in Texas have set off an escalating redistricting battle across the country, with Republican governors in several other states exploring new maps in a bid to protect the party’s razor-thin majority in the US House of Representatives.
Politico reported that Republicans could draw as many as 10 new seats ahead of the midterms and are targeting Ohio, Missouri, New Hampshire, Indiana, South Carolina and Florida.
