In a dramatic and politically charged move, dozens of Texas House Democrats arrived in Illinois on Sunday evening, walking directly into the national spotlight as they took a firm and highly public stand against a redistricting push led by their Republican counterparts back home. Their decision to leave the state effectively denied the Texas House the quorum needed to pass a new congressional map — one critics say is designed to cement GOP control and protect former President Donald Trump’s influence heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
The Democratic legislators, some visibly fatigued but resolute, arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and were immediately welcomed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. What followed was not merely a show of state-to-state solidarity, but a charged press conference in which accusations of political manipulation, racial gerrymandering, and even authoritarianism dominated the air.
At a late-night event held at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters in Carol Stream, Gov. Pritzker offered a full-throated defense of the visiting Texas Democrats. He criticized the motives behind the redistricting session, suggesting that the GOP’s intent went far beyond standard legislative duties.
“Let’s be clear,” Pritzker said firmly, “this is not just rigging the system in Texas. It’s about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come.”
Referring directly to Donald Trump, Pritzker did not hold back.
“Donald Trump is a cheater — we know that. And so is the attorney general of Texas, Ken Paxton. This isn’t about legislative fairness; this is about one man’s fear of losing power. A cult leader who’s now dictating political maps.”
The Illinois governor, who has clashed repeatedly with Texas Governor Greg Abbott in recent years over immigration and sanctuary policies, framed the latest controversy as part of a broader national struggle over democratic norms. According to Pritzker, the Republican-led special session in Austin — originally called to discuss disaster relief following devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country — had been repurposed to serve partisan goals.
Texas Democrats, on their part, said they had no other choice.
“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly,” said Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. “But it is one we make with absolute moral clarity.”
The Democrats’ move means the Texas House — which requires 100 of its 150 members to be present for quorum — will be unable to proceed with a vote on the redistricting plan, at least for now. With only 62 Democrats and 88 Republicans, the GOP was counting on Democratic attendance to push through the map.
But the walkout was not only symbolic; it was strategic.
“We are leaving our state to protect it,” Wu said. “To fight for our constituents, to fight for fair representation. What that looks like? We don’t know exactly. But we’re here. And we’re committed.”
Gov. Abbott was quick to respond. Dismissing the move as cowardly and unlawful, he vowed to act aggressively.
“Real Texans do not run from a fight,” Abbott said in a statement. “I will use every tool at my disposal to remove them from office and name their successors.”
He set a 3 p.m. Monday deadline for legislators to return and threatened to invoke a legal opinion that would allow him to declare the absentees’ seats vacant. The governor also warned that Democrats accepting out-of-state donations to cover fines might be vulnerable to felony bribery charges.
Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed the threats on social media.
“Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law.”
As history shows, this is not the first time Texas Democrats have left the state to stall legislative action. A similar move occurred in 2021, when Democratic lawmakers went to Washington, D.C. to protest new voting laws, resulting in a new Texas House rule that fines absent members $500 per day. The current standoff is already shaping up to be more costly — a report from the Texas Tribune estimates the cost of the Illinois stay could run up to $1 million per month. Party fundraisers are reportedly already seeking donations to cover expenses.
Governor Pritzker, who is a billionaire and a potential 2028 presidential contender, said he would not personally pay for the Texas Democrats’ stay but confirmed that his campaign staff had helped coordinate hotel options and logistics. According to sources close to the governor, the idea for the Democrats to take refuge in Illinois began taking shape in late June, during a dinner meeting with Kendall Scudder, head of the Texas Democratic Party. The conversation gained momentum in recent days after a follow-up meeting on Chicago’s South Side.
Meanwhile, the redistricting plan itself is drawing intense scrutiny. The Republican-sponsored map would reshape five congressional districts to favor GOP candidates, with opponents alleging it would dilute the voting power of Black and Latino communities through tactics like packing and splitting. Republican Rep. Todd Hunter, who authored the bill, was unapologetic.
“Different from everyone else, I’m telling you, I’m not beating around the bush,” Hunter said. “We have five new districts, and these five new districts are based on political performance.”
Critics, however, say that’s exactly the problem.
“They’re not trying to govern,” Rep. Wu said. “They’re trying to hijack the system. And Gov. Abbott is doing this in submission to Donald Trump so that Trump can steal our communities’ power and voice.”
Illinois Republicans, meanwhile, were quick to accuse Pritzker of hypocrisy. Senate GOP Leader John Curran pointed out that Illinois’ own congressional map — drawn by Democrats after the 2020 census — heavily favors their party.
“This is the height of hypocrisy,” Curran said. “Gov. Pritzker should be focused on strengthening democracy here in Illinois, not chasing headlines in Texas.”
Pritzker defended the Illinois map, arguing it was passed through normal legislative channels and complies with constitutional standards. He dismissed Republican criticism by saying that Illinois voters support Democratic policies because “we deliver.”
As the nation watches, the political standoff has added a fresh layer to the ongoing debate over gerrymandering, voting rights, and political power. What happens next will likely depend on the courts, the willpower of both parties — and the determination of lawmakers camped out far from home.
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