Dozens of Texas House Democrats fled the state Sunday in a bid to block an aggressively partisan redrawing of the state’s congressional map backed by President Donald Trump to help the GOP maintain the US House Majority in the 2026 midterms.
The map, unveiled last week, attempts to make five Democratic congressional seats more favorable to Republicans. Texas Republicans argue the move is necessary over concerns that the current maps are unconstitutional and racially gerrymandered. Democrats have said it would suppress the votes of people of color.
The Texas Constitution requires two-thirds of the state House present to conduct legislative business. With 62 Democrats in the House, the minority party can block action as long as 51 remain out of state. “We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities,” Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said shortly after landing in Chicago on Sunday.
In response to the Democratic lawmakers attempt to forestall the vote, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in statement, “Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences.” Abbot also announced a petition to the state Supreme Court seeking to remove Rep. Wu from office.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.
