With the redistricting clock ticking and national eyes once again on Texas, Democrats are hoping the Windy City will blow some momentum their way.
DALLAS — In a political twist on Sunday, more than 51 Texas House Democrats left the state and landed in Chicago, effectively hitting pause on a heated redistricting fight back home.
It’s not the first time they’ve broken quorum, but this time, their choice of destination is definitely turning heads. With the redistricting clock ticking and national eyes once again on Texas, Democrats are hoping the Windy City will blow some momentum their way.
Why Chicago?
According to political analysts, the choice was both strategic and symbolic.
Chicago offers a few key advantages: it’s out of reach of Texas law enforcement, which can compel absent lawmakers to return — if they remain in the state — and it provides a prominent national stage from which to blast Republican redistricting efforts. The city is also home to Democratic allies and institutions that can help amplify their message. In August 2024, Chicago was the centerpiece of the Democratic National Convention, adding extra political spotlight to their move.
The delegation’s arrival in Chicago coincides with a Sunday evening press conference featuring Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, signaling broader national support for breaking quorum.
Democrats had reportedly been planning the quorum break for more than a week, seeking both political oxygen and physical distance. With over a third of the chamber missing, the House lacks the 100-member quorum needed to conduct business.
Redistricting has become the centerpiece of the special session, overtaking even disaster response after more than 130 people died in recent flash floods in Central Texas. Texas Republicans, backed by Trump, are pushing to redraw maps years ahead of schedule, potentially unseating as many as five incumbent Democrats. Wu labeled the move “an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans.”
Though bold, the maneuver is likely temporary. Governor Greg Abbott can simply call another 30-day special session when the current one ends on August 19. Meanwhile, Democrats face the threat of daily $500 fines and criticism from Republicans who accuse them of dereliction of duty.
This isn’t the first time Texas Democrats have crossed state lines to deny a quorum: in 2003, they went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, during a redistricting battle, and in 2021, to Washington, D.C., during the voting rights fight. While those efforts delayed legislation, they didn’t ultimately prevent passage.