The political conflict escalated over the weekend, when about 50 democratic Texas politicians fled their home state. This was to break the quorum – the minimum number of members who must be present in the state congress for a law to be adopted – and thus stop a controversial proposal for new electoral districts.
An intentionally racist map aimed at stealing millions of black and Spanish-speaking Texans' votes, has party leader Gene Wu said about the proposal that came about at the request of President Donald Trump and aims to secure five new Republican seats in the House of Representatives.
New votes?
Wu and several party colleagues traveled to Illinois where they received support from the Trump-critical governor JB Pritzker. Others traveled to Democrat-controlled New York and California, whose governors are at least upset, according to the media.
Gavin Newsom in California accuses Trump of "rigging" the midterm election and is now considering holding a special election in November regarding redrawn electoral maps that favor the Democrats, reports Axios. And Hochul says that the Democrats in New York will come up with an amendment to the state constitution that approves new boundaries for electoral districts there as well. The measure would bypass the non-partisan commission that usually reviews the electoral districts in connection with the censuses held every tenth year.
Threats and fines
The moves give a hint about the tough political situation ahead of the congressional election in 2026. Currently, the Republicans have a small majority in both chambers, an advantage that the Democrats want to erase. And it plays in that both Newsom and Pritzker are said to be considering their own attempts at the White House in 2028.
Texas Republican Governor, Trump loyalist Greg Abott, has warned the Democrats who fled with fines and that he will try to get them dismissed. The state congress has issued a civil arrest warrant for these.
"Texas governor threatens to dismiss democratically elected leaders for refusing to rig an election for Donald Trump", Newsom writes on X.
Tina Magnergård Bjers/TT
Facts: US Congress
TT
Congress is the federal legislative assembly in the US with its seat in the Capitol in the capital Washington DC. Its work runs in two-year periods – the 119th congressional meeting started on January 3, 2025.
Congress consists of the Senate with 100 members, two from each state, and the House of Representatives with 435 seats distributed in relation to the states' population.
In the Senate, the Republicans have 53 of the seats. South Dakota Senator John Thune is the majority leader and New York Democrat Chuck Schumer is the minority leader.
In the House of Representatives, the Republicans have 219 seats, the Democrats 212, and three are vacant. Mike Johnson is the speaker and Hakeem Jeffries is the minority leader.
Congress enacts federal laws, decides on taxes and appropriations, and approves ministers and other high officials. It can also dismiss federal officials, including the president and judges, through impeachment.
Sources: US Congress, House Press Gallery, Senate.gov
