August 4, 2025
Texas Democrats flee state capital to block GOP gerrymandering special session
Democrats flee to DC to block GOP gerrymandering vote
📜Constitutional Law🏛️Government🗳️Elections📊Electoral Systems
On August 4, 2025, dozens of Texas House Democrats boarded flights to Washington, D.C., denying the 86-64 Republican majority the two-thirds quorum required to advance a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan that would likely flip at least five seats to the GOP, according to Reuters reporting.
Governor Greg Abbott threatened to issue arrest warrants under an unused 1927 statute to compel absent legislators to return. Former President Donald Trump praised the effort as “entitled” after his 2024 victory in Texas, framing additional seats as party patronage rather than voter choice.
Dozens of Texas House Democrats fled to Washington DC on August 4, 2025
Departure denied Republicans two-thirds quorum needed for redistricting
Mid-decade redistricting plan would likely flip five congressional seats to GOP
Governor 
Greg Abbott threatened arrest warrants under 1927 statute
Trump praised the redistricting effort as party patronage after 2024 victory
Democrats crossing state lines to avoid forced return by state police
Procedural rules only defense against gerrymandering power grab
📜Constitutional Law🏛️Government🗳️Elections📊Electoral Systems
People, bills, and sources
What You Can Do
1
Support Fair Districts Texas at fairdistrictstx.org fighting gerrymandering
2
Contact Texas legislators supporting those defending voting rights
3
Monitor redistricting impacts on your district at redistrictingdatahub.org
4
Join Common Cause at commoncause.org advocating for fair maps
5
Support legal challenges to partisan redistricting in courts
6
Advocate for independent redistricting commissions in your state