WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Texas Democrats Skip Town to Block a GOP Gerrymander
Aug 5, 2025
Texas Democrats have taken a bold stand by fleeing the state to block a GOP redistricting plan that could shift congressional seats. This tense standoff raises questions about how long they can maintain their absence with special sessions looming. The discussion also navigates the potential for retaliation in other states like California and New York, highlighting the complexities of gerrymandering and political maneuvering. As partisan tensions escalate, the implications for future elections and district maps remain critical.
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Texas Democrats' Quorum Denial Escape
- Texas Democrats fled the state to deny quorum and block a GOP redistricting map that could give Republicans more seats.
- They are staying in states like Illinois where governors promise to protect them from arrest warrants.
Walkout Tactics Usually End Slowly
- Legislative walkouts are an old tactic often ending without success.
- Texas Democrats face time, legal, financial, and personal pressures that will likely cause them to return gradually.
Walkout Catalyzes National Resistance
- The walkout draws national attention to mid-decade redistricting which many overlook.
- It helps build a coalition among Democrats across states resisting GOP gerrymandering efforts.