AWOL Texas Democrats unveiled a new plan to strongarm Republicans amid a redistricting fight.
The Democrats fled to Illinois last week to block the Republicans from voting on a new congressional redistricting map.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened the derelict Democrats with arrest and removal from office if they didn’t return to the Capitol.
Texas Democrats will reportedly return to the Capitol for Governor Abbott’s 2nd special session to vote on the GOP’s redistricting effort, however, the timing is unclear because now they are making new demands.
According to the Associated Press, Texas Democrats won’t return home unless “Texas Republicans end a special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal.”
The Associated Press reported:
Texas Democrats on Thursday moved closer to ending a nearly two-week walkout that has blocked the GOP’s redrawing of U.S. House maps before the 2026 election and put them under escalating threats by Republicans back home.
The Democrats announced they will return so long as Texas Republicans end a special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal, both of which were expected to happen Friday.
Democrats did not say what day they might return.
On Wednesday, an Illinois judge denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to enforce arrest warrants against derelict state House Democrats.
Judge Scott Larson said Paxton failed to “present a legal basis for the court to obtain subject matter jurisdiction over this cause of action…”
Governor Abbott laughed at the Democrats as they made all kinds of demands for a second special session from Chicago.
How embarrassing. Texas Democrats mailing in their “demands”… FROM CHICAGO.
Come back and fight like Texans rather than running and hiding like cowards. https://t.co/uHdjYHS8Gk
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 13, 2025
