Texas Democrats break quorum, flee to Chicago over redistricting

CHICAGO – Texas Democrats have reportedly fled to Chicago to stop any further progress on congressional redistricting for the states.

Texas Democrats break quorum over redistricting

What we know:

According to statements from multiple Democrats, they fled the state in order to break the two-thirds quorum requirement for the Texas Legislature to conduct business.

The break is in response to the process of redistricting congressional lines for Texas. The first draft of the congressional map was approved on Saturday by a Texas House committee.

Democrats are scheduled to speak at a press conference in Chicago at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday.

By leaving the state, Democrats are looking to block Republicans from the needed quorum to hold votes on the map set for Monday. 

Dig deeper:

Democrats have been strongly opposed to the process, claiming it was an attempt at gerrymandering led by President Donald Trump. In mid-July, the president said he expects Republicans to gain five seats in Texas.

A large chunk of Texas Democrats are heading to Illinois, where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker had been in quiet talks with them for weeks about offering support if they chose to leave the state to break quorum.

Statements from the Democrats say the special legislative session was supposed to focus on the deadly July flooding in Central Texas, but the focus shifted to redistricting.

The Texas House has rules to fine lawmakers $500 each day they break a quorum. 

What they’re saying:

The following quotes are excerpted from Democrats’ statements:

• State Rep. Ann Johnson (Houston) – “We’ve reached a line I won’t cross. Abbott’s map is a direct assault on our constitution. If we’re not willing to put ourselves in the way of that, we shouldn’t be here.”
• State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (central Travis County) – “We should be in Austin right now, working to support grieving communities devastated by the July 4th floods that took more than 135 of our fellow Texans – many of them families and children. That’s what Texans deserve in the wake of a horrific tragedy.”
• State Rep. James Talarico (Travis County) – “We’re not just fighting for Democrats — we’re fighting for Independents and Republicans too. Because in a democracy, voters are supposed to choose their politicians — not the other way around.”
• Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder – “Your right to representation in your government is under attack, and Texas Democrats will protect your rights through any means necessary. We’re backing our Democratic lawmakers who are fighting against Trump’s Texas Takeover nationwide.”

The other side:

FOX 26 is reaching out to Texas Republicans for comment.

In mid-July, GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton had said previously that if Democrats break quorum, “they should be found and arrested no matter where they go.”