Texas Democrats return, ending two-week walkout over redistricting

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Democrats have ended their two-week walkout that put a hold on Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts mid-decade.

What we know:

Dozens of Texas House Democrats left the state on August 3 to prevent voting on a redrawn congressional district map that could potentially give Republicans five more seats in the 2026 midterms.

The Democrats came back to the Capitol as a second special session resumes Monday afternoon. The new session began on Friday, just hours after the first session ended without meeting quorum.

Their return comes after California Democratic leaders moved forward with plans to redraw their US House maps to counteract the proposed Texas maps.

READ MORE: These states may try redrawing congressional maps in response to, or in support of, Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott previously indicated that he was prepared to continue to call lawmakers back for special sessions until Democrats returned. Each special session can last up to 30 days and there's no limit to how many or how often the governor can call a special session.

Speaker Dustin Burrows declared Monday afternoon that the Texas House had a quorum. 

"It will withstand this too, and we'll remain as a chamber where the majority has the right to prevail, and the minority has the right to be heard. That has always been the mark of a functioning Texas House," said Speaker Burrows. 

Democrats return to the Texas House

What they're saying:

The political olive branch was appreciated by Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Mihaela Plesa (D-Dallas).

"Well, I really appreciate the bipartisan nature. Look, Texas Democrats have been under attack for the last two weeks. Whether it was bomb threats at hotels people thought we were at, we've had members have their tires slashed in front of their homes. We had over 20 members receive pizzas that were unsolicited to their homes with the Minnesota shooter's name as the sender. So, it's very concerning, and we need to calm down this harmful rhetoric," said state Rep. Plesa.

Several Republicans said the AWOL Democrats should be forced to pay the $500-a-day fine they accumulated. 

Also, the Speaker's welcome home speech didn't sit well with state Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian).

"Conciliatory, you're right, that was the tone, but it's the exact opposite tone. Texans wanted actions, they wanted punishments. We got absolutely nothing," said Rep. Harrison.

There was some accountability from the Speaker. The quorum-breaking Democrats were not allowed to leave the House Chamber before going to a back room. They signed a document promising to return Wednesday when the House reconvenes. 

State Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas) said she had no regrets about taking part in the walkout that prevented a controversial redistricting map from being considered during the first Special Session.

Along with signing what many jokingly referred to as a "hall pass," Rose and her colleagues got something else. The Democrats who left Texas were assigned plainclothes DPS troopers to shadow them.

"I think it is an unnecessary use of state funds. I mean, we came back, you know, our colleagues know us. They know that. I mean that we came back today that we're here to work. You know, we did, that was the first part of our strategy, and it's time to kick it off. Just get the bill done and then kick it over to the court," said Rose.

It’s somewhat of a flip-flop in political strategy for the Democrats. House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu explained why they are now in a rush to vote on a redistricting map that they originally tried to stop.

"The real issue remaining is, is this going to get to court in time? Because the court has what's known as their newly created Purcell Doctrine that says if it's too close to electioneering, election times, that the court will say the map is unconstitutional, but it's too late to do anything about it. You can't hold it, you can't use this map next time, but you can use it this time," said Rep. Wu (D-Houston).

Dig deeper:

A fast-track decision from a court is no guarantee of success. 

The federal trial over the 2021 redistricting map has yet to be resolved. Testimony ended last month, but post-trial briefings are still being considered.

What's next:

The Texas House is adjourned until Wednesday morning, while the Texas Senate is adjourned until 5 p.m. this evening (August 18).

What's on the Special Session 2 agenda?

The legislative agenda for the second special session focuses on the same priorities that Abbott set for the first session: flood relief, improved flood warning systems, eliminating the STAAR Test, regulating hemp products, banning abortion pills and redistricting.

During the first session, the Senate was able to pass all of Abbott's priorities, but those bills were sent to the House where business was halted because of a lack of quorum.

Now lawmakers will have to start over.

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