Texas House Democrats will end their weeks-long standoff and return to Austin, clearing the way for Republicans to pass a new congressional redistricting map that could add up to five more GOP seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Democrats fled the state to New York and Illinois in an attempt to block the special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, but now claim they achieved their goal by derailing the first session and drawing national attention to the Republican-led effort.
Republicans Poised for a Major Win
The Texas Senate already approved the new congressional map in a 19–2 vote after nine Democratic senators walked out. The map redraws several Democrat-held districts — including those of Reps. Henry Cuellar, Greg Casar, Al Green, and Julie Johnson — into areas that former President Donald Trump won by at least 10 points in 2024.
If enacted, the map would expand the GOP’s U.S. House majority, which currently stands at 219–212 with four seats vacant.
Abbott and GOP Hold Firm
Abbott warned Democrats during the standoff that he would keep calling special sessions until the redistricting and other GOP priorities were passed. On Friday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a court to declare the absent Democrats’ seats vacant, accusing them of staging an “out-of-state rebellion.”
Republicans have defended their map by pointing to aggressive gerrymandering by Democrats in states like California, New York, and Illinois, where GOP-held seats were eliminated or redrawn to favor Democrats.
Democrats’ Previous Power Plays
After the 2024 elections:
-
California sent 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans to the House, up from 40 Democrats and 12 Republicans in 2022.
-
New York redrew districts after 2022 to put up to six of 11 GOP seats at risk, netting three seats for Democrats by 2024.
-
Illinois eliminated two Republican seats before 2022, shifting from 13–5 Democrat control to 14–3 after the 2020 census.
