Texas Democrats Return to the Lone Star State

Texas State Capitol building in Austin in springtime.

AUSTIN – (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas State Democratic lawmakers have returned to the Lone Star State after a two week absence temporarily blocking Republican leaders from a plan to boost their party’s majority in the U.S. House, sparking a multi-state pledged war over redistricting.

The lawmakers fled to Democratic-led states, leading to California Governor Gavin Newsome pledging to allow his state’s voters to decide in November if they will flip a Texas-like number of seats from Republican to Democratic-held, in an effort to offset the Texas momentum.

Texas lawmakers did manage to prevent Texas Republicans from passing a redrawn congressional map during the first special legislative session, but a second session began Friday, with enough lawmakers now present to get the seat flip passed.

More than 50 Texas Democrats left the state August third, one day ahead of the start of the first special session, leaving the state House short of the quorum to considr legislative business.

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