Texas House Democrats announced on Sunday that they were leaving the state in a bid to stop Republicans from advancing House maps that would give the GOP five more pickup opportunities ahead of 2026. 

The Texas Democrats said they were denying Republicans a quorum, or the minimum number of lawmakers needed present in order to conduct legislative business, following a similar tactic they employed the last time the GOP pursued midcycle redistricting in 2003. 

“Governor Abbott has turned the victims of a tragedy into political hostages in his submission to Donald Trump,” Texas House Democrats said in a statement posted on the social platform X. “We will not allow disaster relief to be held hostage to a Trump gerrymander. As of today, this corrupt special session is over.” 

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) is set to hold a press conference with the Texas Democrats later on Sunday.

DEVELOPING