Democratic state lawmakers have fled Texas in a bid to stop a vote on a new congressional map that would heavily favour Republicans.<\/p>\n
The redistricting, unveiled by Texas’ majority Republicans last week and backed by President Donald Trump, would create five new Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Two-thirds of the 150-member Texas legislature must be present in order to hold a vote. Fifty-one Democratic lawmakers have fled, most of them to Illinois, denying Republicans the required quorum.<\/p>\n
They said they plan to stay away for two weeks until the end of a special legislative session convened by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott.<\/p>\n
The session is being held to approve the redistricting, as well as provide disaster relief for last month’s deadly Texas floods and to ban THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.<\/p>\n
Each of the 51 lawmakers could face a $500 (\u00a3380) fine for every day they are away, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, has threatened to have them arrested. <\/p>\n
He said on X the state should “use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law”.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Texas Democrats defended the move.<\/p>\n
“We’re not walking out on our responsibilities,” said state legislator and chairman of the Democratic caucus Gene Wu. <\/p>\n
“We’re walking out on a rigged system that refuses to listen to the people we represent.”<\/p>\n
While Democrats nationwide have threatened tit-for-tat tactics, their options may be limited.<\/p>\n
In states where they handle the redistricting process, such as Illinois, New Mexico and Nevada, Democrats have already gerrymandered just as eagerly as Republicans.<\/p>\n