Democratic lawmakers in Texas have temporarily fled the state in a bid to block a redrawing of congressional districts intended to bolster the Republicans’ majority in the US House of Representatives.
A vote in the Texas state legislature has been scheduled for Monday to redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and try to net Republicans five more seats in the lower chamber of the US Congress. The move has been pushed by US President Donald Trump.
In order for the Texas House to vote on the measure, at least 100 of 150 members need to be present. Democrats are denying Republicans, who control the state government, a quorum by absenting themselves en masse. At least 51 of the 62 members of the Democrat caucus have broken the quorum, most of whom have left Texas for Chicago.