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Texas Dems to flee state amid national redistricting battle
Politico ^ | 08/03/2025 | Adam Wren

Posted on 08/03/2025 2:05:13 PM PDT by DFG

Dozens of Texas Democrats plan to flee the state amid a special session Sunday afternoon, making a last-ditch effort to disrupt a mid-decade redistricting attempt forced by President Donald Trump, according to two people briefed on the matter.

It marks their second act of breaking quorum — when the state House will lack the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business — since 2021. And it comes as the party scrambles to counter the aggressive action in Texas, intended to keep Republicans in power in Congress next year by creating five GOP-friendly seats in the state.

Four years ago, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for the arrest of fleeing lawmakers upon their return to their state.

Sunday’s move will almost certainly set off a nationwide redistricting arms race that threatens to upend the 2026 midterm election map.

For weeks Texas state lawmakers have been debating their strategy for responding to the GOP: Some members fully support a walkout; others are reluctant to take such a risk that could put them in legal and political jeopardy.

“Breaking quorum is an extreme step.It should be a last resort,” State Rep. James Talarico told POLITICO in an interview last Tuesday. He was among the 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled the state in 2021 over an election bill. Democrats are said to be headed to Illinois, a blue state with a governor who has accused Texas Republicans of cheating by trying to finagle redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

They are expected to touch down in Illinois on Sunday, setting off a standoff with Abbott in the high-stakes redistricting battle.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: beetlejuice; chicago; chickends; chiraq; democrats; democrooks; fat; il; illinois; pritzker; redistricting; texas
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1 posted on 08/03/2025 2:05:13 PM PDT by DFG
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To: DFG

Witch(sic) bus jazz-mean riding on?


2 posted on 08/03/2025 2:06:15 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉! 🇮🇱👍!)
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To: DFG

This again. The fleeing Dems. 😂🤣


3 posted on 08/03/2025 2:08:27 PM PDT by Allegra (Thank you for your attention to this matter. )
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To: DFG

Thew Dems pulled this “flee” garbage before.


4 posted on 08/03/2025 2:08:53 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: DFG

Don’t let them come back.


5 posted on 08/03/2025 2:09:11 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: rktman

Dems leaving Texas would be great for the State.


6 posted on 08/03/2025 2:09:42 PM PDT by abbastanza (Oh boy. Can't wait. Go nuts kids. )
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To: DFG

Prison time. Sore losers...etc., etc., ad nauseum.


7 posted on 08/03/2025 2:11:03 PM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: abbastanza

Yeah they can LEAVE and never come back, sounds good to me, best decision they have ever made! Its ironic, the commies are SO upset about redistricting, but they are fine with importing MILLIONS of illegals so they get counted on the census and Dems gain 30+ congressional seats


8 posted on 08/03/2025 2:17:36 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: DFG

“Democrats are said to be headed to Illinois, a blue state with a governor who has accused Texas Republicans of cheating by trying to finagle redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.”

They used to go to Ardmore, Oklahoma. Then the Governor of Oklahoma said the would allow Texas rangers to arrest them while they were there.


9 posted on 08/03/2025 2:19:36 PM PDT by DugwayDuke (Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
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To: DFG

Don’t forget to pull the fire alarm immediately before you exit the building.

Surely they’ve learned that from Jamaal!


10 posted on 08/03/2025 2:23:37 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: DugwayDuke

That’s ironic.

Heading to Illinois - the most gerrymandered - for the Democrats - state in the country. Although California is right up there.


11 posted on 08/03/2025 2:25:20 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: DFG

Always happens. The toddlers will return and it will pass


12 posted on 08/03/2025 2:26:26 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: DFG
This ‘running away to break quorum’ crap should automatically result in those engaging in it being kicked out of office.

They are literally vacating their seats. It ought to made formal as well.

Yet another case where the party named after democracy, that constantly accuses the Right of undermining it, is actually the one undermining it. They’re not representing their constituents by fleeing the State House for Illinois and refusing to cast votes. Quite literally the opposite.
13 posted on 08/03/2025 2:27:21 PM PDT by verum ago (I figure some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind.)
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To: DFG

Are they going to IL because IL has agreed to pay for their stay...?

Because if IL is paying for this, why can’t that quid pro quo be construed as a bribe?


14 posted on 08/03/2025 2:35:16 PM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: John Milner

John Milner wrote: “That’s ironic. Heading to Illinois - the most gerrymandered - for the Democrats - state in the country. Although California is right up there.”

Easy to understand. To a Texas democrat, Illinois does gerrymandering to right way, to increase democrat seats.


15 posted on 08/03/2025 2:37:37 PM PDT by DugwayDuke (Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
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To: DFG

Weren’t arrest warrants issued last decade in Dallas when they pulled this same stunt?


16 posted on 08/03/2025 2:53:25 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: DFG

I hope the Texas rangers are ready to arrest them and bring them back in cuffs.


17 posted on 08/03/2025 3:00:44 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again," )
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To: mewzilla

Would that be an act of war by the state of Illinois?


18 posted on 08/03/2025 3:03:59 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again," )
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To: verum ago

Disagree. While I despise the Democrat platform, when you’re in the minority sometimes denial of quorum is your only option. Same thing happened here in Oregon, except it was Republicans that walked out. They were able to kill some really bad bills, but they ended up losing their seats in the process. We lost some great conservative legislators. Careful what you wish for.


19 posted on 08/03/2025 3:06:31 PM PDT by ten18
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To: ten18

Sometimes walking out is “doing your job.”


20 posted on 08/03/2025 3:07:25 PM PDT by ten18
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