Overview

• More than 50 state House Democrats fled to Illinois and New York, depriving the chamber of the two-thirds quorum needed to advance the redistricting bill
• The special session convened by Republicans aims to redraw Texas’s congressional map to secure five extra U.S. House seats for their party
• On August 4, the Texas House passed an 85-6 resolution authorizing law enforcement to detain absent lawmakers and compel their return to the chamber
• Governor Greg Abbott is threatening $500 daily fines and potential seat forfeiture for each unauthorized absence, with court challenges anticipated
• The walkout echoes a 2021 protest and enjoys backing from governors J.B. Pritzker and Gavin Newsom, highlighting its national significance for control of the U.S. House