Texas House Democrats Stall Redistricting With Walkout, Blocking Quorum

Texas House Democrats have staged a walkout and left the state to prevent a quorum and block a vote on a Republican-backed redistricting plan designed to increase GOP congressional seats, aligning with President Donald Trump's efforts to gerrymander maps ahead of the 2026 elections. Despite threats of arrest and attempts to compel their return by Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans, Democrats remain resolute, emphasizing their opposition to what they describe as a rigged system that prioritizes partisan advantage over disaster relief for flood victims. The walkout has garnered support from prominent political figures such as Governor Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, signaling broader national resistance to the Texas GOP's redistricting strategy. Republicans have vowed to escalate efforts to end the holdout, including potential removal of absent Democrats from office and involving the FBI to locate them. The Texas House has failed to meet quorum multiple times, with the situation highlighting a deepening partisan conflict over redistricting and voting rights in Texas. The House is scheduled to reconvene with efforts ongoing to resolve the impasse.