A standoff is brewing in Texas over Republican plans to redraw congressional districts in the GOP’s favor, while New York’s governor threatens to speed up her own redistricting in retaliation. Here’s what you need to know about the interstate redistricting battle:
The Texas Democratic exodus
Lawmakers flee state to block GOP redistricting vote:
- Democratic lawmakers fled Texas to block Legislature’s redistricting vote
- Could be removed from office or arrested if they don’t return Monday afternoon
- Gov. Greg Abbott announced he will remove them from Texas House if not back by 3 p.m. Monday
- Governor also threatened to charge them with felonies
Abbott’s removal threats
Republican governor cites abandonment of office:
- “These absences are not merely unintended and unavoidable interruptions in public service”
- “Instead, these absences were premeditated for an illegitimate purpose”
- Abbott said Democrats “soliciting funds” to evade fines could result in bribery charges
- “I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons”
The Democratic strategy
Texas Democrats plan extended absence in blue states:
- Plan on hunkering down in Illinois, New York and other blue states for two weeks
- Goal to stop Republican-led Legislature from redrawing congressional districts
- Redistricting would make it easier for Republican candidates to win five additional House seats
- Part of GOP plan to hold onto U.S. House control in 2026 midterms
The quorum disruption
Democrats aim to prevent legislative business:
- Refusing to show up to leave Texas House without quorum
- Quorum is minimum number of lawmakers required to conduct legislative business
- 50-plus Democrats fled Texas over weekend
- Indicated they’ll stay away until Legislature’s special session ends in two weeks
The Republican response
Texas officials demand Democrats’ return:
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Democrats “should be found, arrested and brought back”
- Paxton is running for U.S. Senate
- Abbott claims legal authority to remove lawmakers for purposeful absence
- Texas House Democratic Caucus responded to removal threat: “Come and take it”
The Illinois protection
Democratic governor shields fleeing Texas lawmakers:
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’ll shield fleeing Democrats in his state
- “We are going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them”
- “We know that they are doing the right thing. We know they are following the law”
- Criticized Texas leaders as ones “attempting not to follow the law”
New York’s retaliation plan
Hochul announces accelerated redistricting response:
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will speed up redrawing of congressional districts
- Response to Texas plan to eliminate five House seats controlled by Democrats
- Also called for disbanding New York’s independent redistricting commission
- Commission tasked with ensuring districts drawn in nonpartisan manner
The New York timeline
State moves up redistricting schedule significantly:
- New York not slated to reconsider congressional boundaries until 2034
- Hochul said she will move much sooner to counter GOP redistricting in Texas
- “All is fair in love and war” according to Hochul
- “If there are other states that are violating the rules…I’ll look at it closely”
The Democratic coordination
New York governor appears with fleeing Texas lawmakers:
- Hochul appeared alongside several Democratic Texas Legislature members
- Texas Democrats fled state Sunday to prevent GOP House voting on new map
- Redrawn Texas districts would likely eliminate five Democratic House seats
- Would make it easier for GOP to hold majority in 2026 midterms
The New York targets
Empire State could eliminate Republican districts:
- Blue states scheming to redraw maps to eliminate Republican-leaning districts
- Seven of New York’s 26 congressional districts held by Republicans
- Hochul considering targeting these GOP seats in retaliation
- Part of broader Democratic counter-strategy to Texas redistricting
The constitutional process
New York redistricting requires complex amendment procedure:
- State Legislature must vote in two consecutive sessions to amend constitution
- Then put measure on ballot for voters to decide
- “This could literally go on the ballot in the fall of ’27”
- Could be “enacted in time for the congressional races in 2028”
The commission elimination
Democrats want to remove nonpartisan redistricting barrier:
- Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie want to eliminate redistricting commission
- Commission created in 2014 after voters approved constitutional amendment
- Democrats predict voters would eliminate commission if given opportunity
- “Difficult to ask New York…to play nonpartisan, while Republicans play very partisan”
Read more:
• Greg Abbott threatens to remove Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas
• New York to redraw congressional map in response to Texas GOP redistricting
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
