The Great Texas Walkout of 2025

Echoing past rebellions, Democrats bolt to Illinois and beyond, stalling a mid-decade redraw aimed at consolidating Republican power.

In a bold and unprecedented move that echoes historic legislative standoffs, more than 50 Texas House Democrats fled the state on Sunday, effectively grinding the chamber to a halt and preventing a vote on a controversial redistricting plan backed by former President Donald Trump. The walkout, which deprived Republicans of the quorum needed to conduct business, came just hours before a scheduled vote on a map projected to add up to five new GOP-leaning congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms, a maneuver Democrats decry as blatant partisan gerrymandering aimed at diluting the voting power of urban communities of color. By Monday, the Texas House had responded with overwhelming force, voting 85-6 to approve civil arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers, a largely symbolic gesture since the Democrats had strategically relocated to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts—states beyond the reach of Texas authorities. Notably, even without the full two-thirds quorum required for passing regular legislation, the Texas Constitution permits a smaller group of present members to adjourn day-to-day and compel attendance through measures like warrants and fines, as outlined in Article III, Section 10, empowering the House to enforce participation under its own rules. This mechanism was upheld by the Texas Supreme Court in a 2021 ruling during a similar quorum break, affirming that House leaders could “physically compel the attendance” of missing members, though enforcement is limited to within Texas borders and out-of-state Democrats can’t be extradited for civil matters.

The exodus began Sunday evening, with at least 51 Democrats boarding flights out of Austin, their departure coordinated to ensure the House lacked the two-thirds majority required for legislative action. Illinois emerged as the primary destination, where Governor J.B. Pritzker welcomed the group, praising their stand against what he called an unconstitutional power grab. “These lawmakers are doing the right thing by fighting for fair maps and democracy,” Pritzker stated in a tweet that quickly garnered widespread attention online. The Democrats’ strategy draws directly from Texas political lore, reminiscent of the 2003 “Killer Ds” who bolted to Oklahoma and New Mexico to thwart a similar redistricting effort led by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and the 2021 walkout to Washington, D.C., over voting rights legislation. In both prior instances, Republicans eventually prevailed after multiple special sessions, but not without significant public backlash and legal battles.