Greg Abbott Threatens to Expel Texas Democrats as They Thwart Redistricting [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 04, 2025 at 3:37 AM EDT Updated Aug 04, 2025 at 3:38 AM EDT


Texas Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to remove "derelict Democrats" from the state's House of Representatives if they fail to return by Monday afternoon. The threat came after numerous Texas Democrats left their home state and traveled to Illinois in an effort to prevent the state legislature from holding a vote that would approve Republican-backed redistricting maps.

In a letter to the Democrats, Abbott wrote: "Real Texans do not run from a fight. But that's exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did... rather than doing their job and voting on urgent legislation affecting the lives of all Texans, they have fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum necessary to meet and conduct business."

Why It Matters

Abbott's threat intensifies the face-off over Republican efforts to redraw the districting map in Texas to bolster the party's chances of retaining the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans in other states facing significant battleground contests have looked to follow a similar path.

Republicans have slim majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate, giving Democrats hopes of retaking at least one of the Houses of Congress in next year's elections.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-threatens-remove-fleeing-texas-democrats-redistricting-map-2108313