Texas Democrats Head To Illinois To Deny Republicans A Quorum On Redistricting

CHICAGO — In an bonzer move to antagonistic Republican redistricting successful Texas, dozens of Democrats successful nan authorities House of Representatives are heading present Sunday to contradict a basal quorum for nan GOP to move guardant pinch those efforts.

The astir 30 Democrats are expected to enactment for nan week successful a scheme brokered pinch Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who had met pinch nan Texas caucus precocious past period and has directed unit to supply logistical support for their stay. A news convention pinch nan politician and Texas Democrats is expected later Sunday.

“We’re leaving Texas to conflict for Texans,” Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said successful a statement. “We will not let disaster alleviation to beryllium held hostage to a Trump gerrymander. We’re not stepping retired connected our responsibilities; we’re stepping retired connected a rigged strategy that refuses to perceive to nan group we represent. As of today, this corrupt typical convention is over.”

Last week, Texas Republicans released a projected caller legislature representation that would springiness nan GOP a way to prime up 5 seats successful adjacent year’s midterm elections. It followed President Donald Trump’s public unit for a caller map successful nan authorities arsenic he useful to clasp a mostly successful Congress successful what historically is simply a difficult twelvemonth for nan statement holding nan White House.

The projected representation would displacement territory lines successful ways that would target existent Democratic members of Congress successful and astir Austin, Dallas and Houston, arsenic good arsenic 2 already endangered Democrats representing South Texas districts that Trump carried past year.

A House committee approved nan gerrymandered legislature maps connected a party-line ballot Saturday morning. After nan vote, nan committee chairman, Republican authorities Rep. Cody Vasut, told NBC News nan maps were drawn to thief Republicans triumph much seats.

“This representation was politically based, and that’s wholly legal, wholly allowed and wholly fair,” Vasut said. “You sewage states for illustration California and New York and Illinois that person these really ample margins betwixt nan percent of seats they person and nan percent of votes that they’re getting, and Texas is underperforming successful that. And truthful it’s wholly prudent, wholly right, for Texas to beryllium capable to respond and amended nan governmental capacity of its map.”

“This is not a determination we make lightly, but it is 1 we make pinch absolute civilized clarity,” Wu continued successful nan statement. “Governor Abbott has turned nan victims of a historical calamity into governmental hostages successful his submission to Donald Trump. He is utilizing an intentionally racist representation to bargain nan voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, each to execute a corrupt governmental deal. Apathy is complicity, and we will not beryllium complicit successful nan silencing of hard-working communities who person spent decades fighting for nan powerfulness that Trump wants to steal.”

Politically, nan move puts Pritzker astatine nan halfway of a high-profile nationalist fight. The governor, who is moving for his 3rd word successful office, is besides wide viewed arsenic a 2028 statesmanlike contender. He has implored Democrats to defy Trump’s agenda.

The origins of Pritzker’s engagement began erstwhile nan politician gave a keynote reside to Oklahoma Democrats successful June. Pritzker met privately successful a “robust” gathering pinch nan statement chair to talk astir nan Texas redistricting, according to a personification adjacent to nan governor. When Pritzker later met pinch Texas Democrats he assured them they could travel to his authorities and find support, including uncovering hotels, gathering spaces and different logistical assistance.

The Texas Democrats, however, face nan consequence of a $500-a-day fine and moreover imaginable apprehension for fleeing nan state. The Republican-controlled Legislature approved nan measurement successful 2023, 2 years aft authorities Democrats left nan authorities for 3 weeks to artifact an elections measure from progressing.

“Democrats person sewage to guidelines up astatine this constituent and show each individual successful this nation, this is not normal. This is not democracy,” Democratic authorities Rep. Ann Johnson told NBC News connected Saturday.

“You’ve sewage these Texas Republicans that are conscionable rolling complete and giving Trump what he wants because he’s asked for it. It’s an affront to each citizen, not only successful Texas but nan nation.”

The Texas House is scheduled to convene astatine 3 p.m. CT Monday. The redistricting measure is truthful acold nan only point connected nan calendar.

Natasha Korecki reported from Chicago, and Ryan Chandler from Austin, Texas.