Some 30 Democrats plan to travel to Illinois, where they will stay for a week, to deny Republicans the quorum needed to validate the vote’s proceedings.
In a statement, Texas Democrats accused their Republican counterparts of “cowardly” surrender to Donald Trump’s call for redistricting the congressional map to “continue pushing his disastrous policies”.
Texas Democrats claim they are thwarting Trump’s plan by denying his supporters a quorum, saying they are halting a “Trump-style gerrymander”.
The escape plan, reportedly arranged by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, relies on logistical support from Illinois staff.
Texa House Democratic Caucus Chair, Gene Wu, defended their action, saying “We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage to a Trump gerrymander”.
Last week, Texas Republicans released a proposed congressional map that could help the GOP gain five seats in next year’s midterm elections, targeting Democratic strongholds like Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Despite the risks of a $500-a-day fine and potential arrest, the Democrats view this as a means to prevent a “rigged system that refuses to listen to their constituents”.
These events unfold after a House committee approved new congressional maps and as the Texas GOP accuses Democrats of avoiding legislative duties. The political ramifications of the refusal could be heavy and strain relations both locally and nationally. The absence of the Democrats could also obstruct other pressing issues such as disaster relief.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/03/texas-democrats-fleeing-redistricting-vote
