1:00In this Feb. 5, 2025, file photo, Texas Governor Greg Abbott addresses reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Alex Brandon/AP, FILE
The dispute regarding possible mid-decade redistricting in Texas — where the state’s congressional district boundaries might be revised well before the next census — persisted on Monday as numerous Texas House Democrats remained out of state for a second consecutive week to obstruct any potential votes on the map.
In Austin, the Texas House of Representatives is slated to convene, and the redistricting bill is nominally set for a second reading (which would not constitute a vote to advance it out of the chamber). However, this cannot occur without a quorum; Republican legislators may attempt another roll call to determine if they still lack a quorum.
The Texas Senate is also scheduled to convene and may cast a vote on its own iteration of redistricting legislation, although if it approves the bill, it cannot be voted on in the House until a quorum is reached.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, independently, intensified legal actions last week to compel Democrats to return to Texas or to investigate the sources funding their activities.
The Texas Capitol is observed on August 04, 2025 in Austin, Texas.Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Abbott has also expressed his intention to summon special legislative sessions repeatedly to ensure the passage of the Republican-backed maps, even if Democrats extend the 30-day limit of the current session.
In this Feb. 5, 2025, file photo, Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.Alex Brandon/AP, FILE
"I’m empowered to call a special session every 30 days. Each session lasts 30 days, and as soon as this one concludes, I’m going to initiate another one, followed by another, and another, and another. If they return to the state of Texas, they will be detained and brought to the Capitol," he stated in an interview with Fox News on Sunday.
"If they wish to avoid that arrest, they will need to remain outside the state of Texas for literally years, and they may as well just begin voting in California or Illinois, wherever they might be," he added.
However, Democrats are also taking proactive measures. Eric Holder, a former attorney general and current chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, is scheduled to discuss redistricting with U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday.
Texas Democratic state Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. speaks during a press conference held by Texas Democratic lawmakers after leaving the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to redraw Texas’ 38 congressional districts, in Aurora, Ill., Aug. 5, 2025.Tom Krawczyk/Reuters
In California, lawmakers have indicated they anticipate revealing proposed new congressional maps this week that could potentially be presented to voters for ratification in a special election in November. However, conducting a statewide election with relatively short notice will pose a challenge, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to Trump stating that the state would abandon its potential plans if other states would do the same.
“You are flirting with danger, jeopardizing the stability of our democracy, while being aware that California can neutralize any advantages you hope to achieve," Newsom wrote. In addition, governors in Florida, Indiana, and Missouri have shown interest in possible mid-decade redistrict
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
