By Joseph Lord
Democratic lawmakers left the state of Texas on Aug. 3 in a dramatic escalation meant to block the consideration of a bill to redraw the state’s congressional maps, intended to increase Republicans’ hold on the lower chamber.
“This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity,” said Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, in a statement.
The move is intended as a last-ditch attempt to block Republicans from holding a vote on legislation to redraw several Democratic districts in the state to be more favorable to Republicans. Democrats have threatened such a walkout for weeks as their only option to prevent passage of the legislation through the Republican-dominated state government.
“Apathy is complicity, and we will not be complicit in the silencing of hard-working communities who have spent decades fighting for the power that Trump wants to steal,” Wu said.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened consequences ranging from fines to arrests if Democrats leave the state.
In a post on X after news that Democrats had left the state broke, Paxton said that Texas should “use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.”
“Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately,” he wrote.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
