United States: Texas: Democratic lawmakers who went into exile return after two weeks
This return paves the way for the adoption of a new electoral map sought by Donald Trump to increase his Republican majority in Congress in Washington. At the same time, several Republican states are sending troops to Washington.
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Texas Democratic lawmakers accuse Governor Greg Abbott (right) of being subservient to Donald Trump. Photo: Sipa/Jacquelyn Martin
Their "escape" lasted two weeks. Democratic representatives from the Texas legislature announced their return to the state on Monday evening, ending a two-week self-imposed exile to avoid a vote.
This return paves the way for the adoption of a new electoral map sought by Donald Trump to increase his Republican majority in Congress in Washington. The local legislature has been the scene of a remote confrontation between Republicans and Democrats since early August due to the former's desire to redraw the 38 constituencies of this southern state, the second most populous in the country.
A leak to escape a voteUnder Donald Trump's leadership, Texas Republicans want to change the electoral map so that the Democratic vote is diluted, a technique called "gerrymandering," and thus increase their contingent of 25 elected members in the House of Representatives in Washington by five, after the midterm elections in November 2026.
But Democrats, who are in the minority in the Texas legislature, are trying to oppose this redistricting. They fled the state in early August, taking refuge in Chicago or New York, so that a quorum would not be reached. Their departure prevented Republicans from organizing a vote on the text.
Soon it will be California's turn?
In response to the Texas initiative, California, governed by Democrat Gavin Newsom, announced Monday its intention to redraw its electoral maps.
The governor and Californian legislators have thus presented a bill to organize a referendum to this effect. If California voters approve it on November 4, the local legislature, where Democrats are in the majority, will be able to establish a new map that should grant them five additional seats in the United States Congress, as in Texas.
In announcing their return on Monday, they denounced the Republicans' desire to "silence minority voters through racist gerrymandering ." They believe that the new electoral map dilutes the votes of African-American and Hispanic voters, the majority of whom traditionally vote Democratic.
While hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House, Donald Trump posted a message of support for Texas Republicans on his Truth Social platform.
“It’s great to see Republicans everywhere fighting to save our country,” he wrote, thanking Governor Greg Abbott and urging the new map to be adopted “as soon as possible.”
Several Republican states send troops to Washington
The Republican governor of Mississippi, following those of Ohio, West Virginia, and South Carolina, announced Monday the deployment of some 200 National Guardsmen to Washington, which President Donald Trump intends to "cleanse" of gangs. "I have approved the deployment of approximately 200 Mississippi National Guard soldiers to Washington," Tate Reeves said in a statement.
The announcement follows those of Ohio, West Virginia and South Carolina, other Republican states that have also announced such deployments in the federal capital, administered by Democrats.
Ohio will send 150 reservists, South Carolina about 200, while West Virginia will provide about 350, some of whom have already arrived in Washington. They will join 800 National Guard members already mobilized in the capital.
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