Illinois Gov Pritzker Welcomes Texas Democrats Amid Redistricting Standoff

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has welcomed Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled their state to block a Republican-led redistricting plan that would likely increase GOP seats in Congress. The Texas Democrats left to deny Republicans a quorum, as a special legislative session was called to approve a map projected to net the GOP five additional U.S. House seats, a move supported by President Trump. Pritzker pledged to protect the Texas Democrats in Illinois and suggested that Illinois might consider redrawing its own districts to counteract Republican gerrymandering. The Texas Republican state leadership, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, has threatened penalties such as daily fines and arrests against the absent Democrats, though legal experts note such arrests are unlikely. The Democrats view their departure as a moral stand against what they describe as a racially divisive and unfair redistricting effort aimed at silencing minority communities. This tactic follows a similar 2021 walkout by Texas Democrats opposing voting restrictions, highlighting ongoing partisan battles over electoral maps.