Texas Democrats Extend Illinois Stay to Block GOP Redistricting Amid Arrest Threats

Texas Democratic lawmakers have fled the state, with many relocating to Illinois, in an effort to block a Republican-led redistricting plan intended to create five new GOP-favored congressional districts. This redistricting initiative, backed by President Trump, aims to help the Republican Party maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 2026 midterm elections. The Democrats' walkout has left the Texas House without a quorum, halting legislative business and prompting Texas Governor Greg Abbott to threaten removal of absent lawmakers and pursue civil arrest warrants. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has welcomed the Texas Democrats, calling their actions a "righteous act of courage," while Illinois Republicans criticize him for interfering and highlight perceived hypocrisy given Illinois’s own redistricting controversies. Texas officials have warned the Democrats may have committed felonies by leaving and emphasized the need to return and face their legislative responsibilities. The standoff underscores the intense partisan battle over redistricting and its impact on power in Congress.