Texas Democrats Flee State to Block GOP Redistricting Vote

Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state to block a Republican-led redistricting map that could increase GOP seats in the U.S. House, resulting in a lack of quorum and delayed voting. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised the Texas Democrats for their actions, calling it the "embodiment of good trouble" and accusing Republicans of extremism under President Trump. Republicans and conservative commentators, including Senator Tommy Tuberville and various media voices, condemned the Democrats' move as cowardly and a dereliction of duty, arguing that gerrymandering is a longstanding, bipartisan practice and criticizing the Democrats for hypocrisy. The standoff reflects broader tensions over redistricting and election reforms, with Democrats accusing Republicans of rigging elections while Democrats defend their own map changes as efforts toward fairness. The Texas Democrats’ flight to Illinois, itself a state with heavily gerrymandered districts, was also mocked by critics as emblematic of the Democrats’ desperation and strategic tantrums. This episode underscores the deeply polarized battle over control of congressional districts and the different narratives each party advances about redistricting and democratic processes.