Texas redistricting debate intensifies over looming quorum break

DALLAS — Texas lawmakers are in a battle over redistricting efforts — and some Democrats say they’re prepared to walk out to stop it.

For the past three days, the Texas House and Senate redistricting committees have held hearings, taking hours of public testimony. Most speakers have been opposed to the redrawing of political boundaries, raising concerns about fairness, equity, and representation.

“We missed a lot of people,” said State Senator Borris Miles during the hearings, referencing communities he believes were left out of the process. 

The map at the center of the debate has not yet been publicly released, but it’s already drawing criticism. Opponents say the process lacks transparency and disproportionately impacts minority voters.

Senator Phil King, a Republican from Weatherford and chair of the Senate Special Committee on Redistricting, defended the effort.

“I don’t know how many times we’ve been referred to as a racist party,” King said before the testimony began. “I believe the map I voted for in 2001 was a legal map.” 

While King disagreed with a recent letter from the Department of Justice, he emphasized that the Legislature has the authority to take up redistricting in any session.

A heated debate over redistricting is normal, according to Abby Livingston, a congressional reporter with the digital media outlet Puck. 

“In a Southern state like Texas, race is intertwined with redistricting, and it’s usually where the litigation comes out of,” she said.

Livingston noted that while Democrats have limited tools to stop redistricting, one option they’ve used in the past is fleeing the state to break quorum — essentially stalling the process.

“It is very likely Democrats will flee the state out of the Legislature to slow this down,” Livingston said.

That threat appears to be on the table. Representative Ramon Romero, a Democrat from Fort Worth, said he is keeping options open. 

“Once we see a map, if it’s the absolute worst-case scenario, any Democrat that wants to properly serve their district will be prepared to take whatever means necessary — including a quorum break,” Romero said.

Meanwhile, many Republicans have remained quiet on the issue. We reached out to several GOP House members for comment.

Representative Brian Harrison of Midlothian responded, voicing strong support for redistricting and calling the stakes “incredibly high.” 

“I don’t know why there is so much silence from elected Republicans in Texas to support the President’s agenda to redistrict,” Harrison said.

“Growth should mean more representation, not less,” said Senator César J. Blanco.

As the Legislature moves forward with hearings, the public still waits to see what the redrawn map will look like.