Texas Democrats on Monday prevented their state’s House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm prospects as his political standing falters.
After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are absent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using “smoke and mirrors” to assert legal authority he doesn’t have.
The Texas governor says he’s directed the Texas Rangers to investigate the Democratic state lawmakers who’ve left the state to deny the GOP-run Legislature a quorum.
Abbott asserts without presenting evidence that Democrats “may have violated” state bribery laws. He suggests Democrats accepted money as part of their plans to leave Texas and avoid a legislative special session.
David Froomkin, a University of Houston law professor, says the governor, not any absent lawmaker, is on shaky legal ground. Froomkin says it’s difficult to prove any explicit quid pro quo even when an elected official collects campaign contributions connected to their duties.
In California, Democrats encouraged by Gov. Gavin Newsom are considering new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts. The move is intended to undercut any GOP gains in Texas, potentially swinging House control and giving Democrats a counterweight to Trump on Capitol Hill.
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