this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2025
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Texas Democrats are leaving the state in an attempt to prevent the state House from holding a vote Monday on new congressional maps that Republicans hope will net them several additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

The dramatic move Sunday could expose Democrats to fines and other penalties — with the state’s attorney general having previously threatened to arrest them if they took such an action. Refusing to attend legislative session is a civil violation, however, so Democrats legally could not be jailed and it’s unclear who has the power to carry out the warrants.

Democrats have cast the decision to leave the state as a last-ditch effort to stop Republicans who hold full control of the Texas government from pushing through a rare mid-decade redrawing of the congressional map at the direction of President Donald Trump.

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[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 5 points 52 minutes ago (2 children)

I can’t stand redistricting shenanigans like this. All maps for all states should be done by computer. Any politician who has a problem with the computer’s results can explain why before a bipartisan committee. The committee can decide whether to implement any changes.

That’s it. No theatrics, no bullshit.

[–] redsand@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 9 minutes ago

Yeah but how do you program the computer? I'm cool with just using city and county lines.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 2 points 27 minutes ago

All maps for all states should be done by computer

I would be fine with that under any administration before this one. Any government related technology now comes with bullshit and theatrics baked in by executive order.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 34 points 3 hours ago (5 children)

Refusing to attend legislative session is a civil violation, however, so Democrats legally could not be jailed and it’s unclear who has the power to carry out the warrants.

Texas: Hold my beer.

[–] mkwt@lemmy.world 21 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

That's why they're leaving the state. It's conceivable that Texas Rangers could arrest lawmakers on these warrants for the purpose of returning them directly to the legislature. It's much less conceivable that Texas can get extradition from another state.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Hopefully

Trump: Hold my ~~beer~~ democracy

I'm just not putting anything past him right now. He wants an official constitutional crisis sooo bad. The war of passive aggression is only fun when people are bowing down to him.

I'm also just really worried since MAGA base hasn't let go of Epstein, he would use something like this as a distraction. Especially with all those new ICE hires who I'm sure would jump at the chance to receive a medal for violating the constitution on behalf of POTUS. But that is also just me being anxious and trying to prepare for worst case scenario.

I'm glad they're at least trying to resist bc this is insane, and he's honestly left them with no other option. Even if they do just vote for it anyway, I'm not sure what else Dems really can do at this point? At least they're doing something.

Hoping this is receiving local attention, but if TX news is looking anything like local news in my state rn I would guess that's a no.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 6 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Watch Republicans just vote for it and it goes into effect. Not like Republicans care about rules or laws.

Other slightly less worrisome and actually more likely worst case scenario.

[–] SoupBrick@pawb.social 7 points 3 hours ago

So fucking true. They really have lost all accountability and are just begging people to try to stop them from bulldozing through what is left of America.

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

This isn't the first time they've done this.

[–] AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Have they done it during Trump 2.0?

This is really insane. The president of the United States, is asking the state to redraw local districts to help keep (Republican) and his grip on power.

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I think they were arrested last time. It was not this term. They were hiding out in Oklahoma or something like that.

[–] relativestranger@feddit.nl 4 points 2 hours ago

iirc.. 2003 or so, also a redistricting. first attempt at blocking the legislation was successful but a second one for a special session where only the numbers needed to deny a quorum left, was not--after a month or so one of them caved and went back to austin.

[–] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Are they going to hold Ted Cruz to the same standards they come up with?

No bc laws only apply to people who don't bow to the king. Trump insulted Ted Cruz's wife in front of the nation, and he still puckers up to kiss that ring at every chance he gets.

[–] griff@lemmings.world 3 points 2 hours ago

the grand tradition of Texas’s Bush league politics