Texas Democrats Hide Illinois Protest Block GOP Redistricting Gains

Texas House Democrats have fled the state, traveling to Illinois and other states, to deny Republicans a quorum and block a new congressional map backed by President Donald Trump that would allow Republicans to flip up to five Democratic-held seats. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove the absent Democrats from office and called for their arrest, while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker welcomed them, condemning the redistricting effort as rigging the system against voters. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged to fight back against Texas' redistricting attempt and criticized Trump’s involvement, framing the move as an attack on democracy ahead of the 2026 midterms. Newsom also criticized a Republican proposal to prohibit mid-decade redistricting, which was intended to counter states like Texas. Texas Democrats, supported by party chair Kendall Scudder, vow to protect voters' rights and accuse Abbott of prioritizing Trump's political goals over disaster relief. The conflict highlights a broader national struggle over redistricting and election integrity, with Democrats framing their actions as a necessary defense of democratic representation against Republican power grabs.