Texas House Democrats flee the state in bid to block GOP’s proposed congressional map
“Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state Sunday in a bid to block passage of a new congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House next year, raising the stakes in what’s poised to be a national fight over redistricting ahead of next year’s midterm election.
The maneuver, undertaken by most of the Texas House’s 62 Democrats, deprives the Republican-controlled chamber of a quorum — the number of lawmakers needed to function under House rules — ahead of a scheduled Monday vote on the draft map. The 150-member House can only conduct business if at least 100 members are present, meaning the absence of 51 or more Democrats can bring the Legislature’s ongoing special session to a halt.”
Abbott Threatens to Oust Democrats Who Fled
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened quorum breaking Democrats with untested theory that they can be removed from office and replaced if they do not return to the Texas House by Monday, according to the Quorum Report.