On August 3, 2025, at least 51 Texas House Democrats left the state to prevent a quorum, halting a Republican-led effort to pass a new congressional map during a special legislative session. The proposed map, supported by President Donald Trump, would create five additional GOP-favored seats for the 2026 midterm elections. The Texas House requires 100 of its 150 members to conduct business, and with 62 Democratic seats, the absence of 51 lawmakers stalled the vote scheduled for August 4. The Democrats traveled to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, with the largest group in Chicago, joined by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued civil arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers, but these apply only within Texas, limiting their impact. Governor Greg Abbott threatened to remove the Democrats from office, citing a legal opinion, and directed the Texas Rangers to investigate potential bribery. The Democrats, led by House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, aim to delay the session until it expires on August 19. This marks the second quorum break by Texas Democrats in recent years, following a 2021 effort to block voting restrictions.
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