Texas Democrats end walkout as redistricting moves to courts

Texas Democrats near ending a nearly two-week walkout that blocked GOPs redrawing of US House maps before the 2026 election.

Texas Democrats End Walkout as Redistricting Moves to Courts

Texas Democrats signaled they will return to the House once Gov. Greg Abbott calls a special session and California releases its new map proposal, both actions expected on Friday. The party did not set a return date. The opposition argues the move is needed to build a strong public record for a future court case.

The GOP aims to push through maps that could add five more Republican seats before next year to boost the party's chances. House Speaker Dustin Burrows warned that if Democrats do not return when lawmakers reconvene, the session will end and Abbott will start another one. The walkout has included threats of arrest and even a request for FBI help to locate absent lawmakers. Texas has 38 congressional districts, with Republicans holding 25. In California, Democrats control 43 of 52 seats. The standoff began with Democrats fleeing to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to stall the Legislature.

This move blends patience with pressure. It tests how far a party can shape map drawing by leveraging absences, cross state coordination, and the courts. It also shows how mid decade redistricting can become a political weapon, a tactic more common after a census and not a routine mid term move. The plan hinges on actions in another state and on the courts, which creates a high risk that the outcome will depend as much on legal rulings as on votes in Austin.

Highlights

The next chapter will test how far redistricting politics can bend before the courts.