Texas Democrats Flee to Protest Redistricting, Drawing Hypocrisy Claims

Texas House Democrats have fled their constituencies to protest a redistricting map they claim is gerrymandered, with 57 members leaving for Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. The exodus followed Governor Greg Abbott’s call for a special legislative session to address congressional districts deemed unlawfully gerrymandered on racial grounds by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ argued that four Texas districts were created as minority-coalition seats, violating the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment. Texas Democrats accused Abbott and former President Donald Trump of attempting to “steal these communities’ power and voice.” However, critics contend the Democrats’ decision to protest in Illinois, a state with one of the most gerrymandered maps in the country, highlights hypocrisy. Illinois Democrats drew a congressional map that packs Republicans into fewer districts, resulting in Democrats holding 14 of 17 seats despite not winning 60% of the popular vote. Similarly, New York Democrats disregarded a bipartisan redistricting committee’s proposal to use their own map, which Cook Political Report analyst David Wasserman described as a “mild gerrymander.” The Texas Democrats’ actions have drawn criticism for prioritizing party interests over fairness. Commentators argue that by fleeing to states with their own gerrymandering issues, the Democrats undermine their claims of defending voter rights and instead reveal a focus on preserving their political power at the expense of principle.

Published: 8/4/2025