Texas Democrats return to state, ending redistricting standoff ahead of new legislative session

Texas Democrats returned to the state on Monday, ending a two-week redistricting standoff with Republicans ahead of a new legislative session.

More than 50 Texas state House Democrats left the state on Aug. 3, the day before the first special legislative session began for Republicans' redistricting plan. Texas Republicans are seeking to pass a new redistricting map to give their party five more congressional seats. Democrats leaving the state prevented Republicans from having a quorum to pass the new redistricting map.

The House Democrats face a $500 fine for each day they were absent. Ceremonial civil arrest warrants were also authorized against them, while Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott sought court orders to remove more than a dozen of the legislators from their seats.

The state Democrats decided to return after the first special legislative session ended, and California Democrats created their own redistricting plan to counter the Texas GOP's, NBC News reported. Abbott called for a second special session, and enough Democrats have returned for the new map to advance.

“We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,” Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said in a statement.

“We’re returning to Texas more dangerous to Republicans’ plans than when we left. Our return allows us to build the legal record necessary to defeat this racist map in court, take our message to communities across the state and country, and inspire how to fight these undemocratic redistricting schemes in their own statehouses.”

Redistricting usually occurs after the decennial U.S. census. However, Texas Republicans created the new map at President Trump's urging.

The state Senate passed the redistricting plan last week. Most state Senate Democrats walked out during the debate over the bill, but two stayed, letting it pass.