Democrat who fled Texas over redistricting says "we're willing to face whatever consequences"

Source: CBS News

Updated on: August 4, 2025 / 8:19 PM EDT


Three Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas to block an effort to redraw the state's congressional maps to favor Republicans told CBS News on Monday they're prepared to stay out of the state for at least the next two weeks — as GOP leaders threaten consequences.

Dozens of Texas House Democrats headed to Illinois and other blue states over the weekend, denying the chamber's GOP leaders a quorum on Monday. The move has at least temporarily derailed a special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott to reshape the state's U.S. House district maps — after President Trump publicly encouraged Texas Republicans to create five more GOP-leaning House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

One of the Democrats who left Texas for Illinois, state Rep. John Bucy III, told CBS News that lawmakers plan on staying out of the state until the end of the legislative session. Special sessions can last up to 30 days, and just over two weeks are left in the current session.

But if the clock runs out without a vote on the new House maps, Abbott has the power to immediately call another legislative session, state Rep. Ann Johnson acknowledged. If that happens, Democrats will "assess our options," state Rep. James Talarico said.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrat-who-fled-texas-over-redistricting-says-were-willing-to-face-whatever-consequences/