DFW News App

After dozens of Democratic state representatives left Texas to delay the passage of the proposed congressional map, the federal government is now getting involved in tracking them down.

More than 50 Democrats were not present at the Capitol on Monday as the Texas House attempted to vote on the newly drawn congressional map. Those who left include state Reps. Erin Gamez, D-Brownsville, and R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen.

“This is a democracy, but I’m fearful we’re going to lose it,” Gamez said regarding the proposed redistricting, a move that will likely have national implications. “This is pretty much the playbook for what’s going to happen to the rest of the United States.”

Many of the Democrats who left the state are currently situated in New York, Boston and Chicago.

Gamez said that she is still in Texas and supporting her House colleagues from home.

The walkout was prompted after President Donald Trump urged Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw the congressional map as a means of adding an additional five Republican seats ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans currently hold 25 of the state’s 38 congressional seats.

Gamez said that she and her colleagues were misled by Abbott, who called a special session to address relief and disaster mitigation for the victims of the July 4 flooding that ravaged the Texas Hill Country and killed at least 136 people.

However, Democrats were dismayed when they learned that the new congressional map would be included in the current special session, which ends on Aug. 20.

“I want to make clear this map is not of the people, by the people, for Texans,” Gamez said. “This is a … directive from a man from out of state, interrupting our legislative procedure to force this mid-decade redistricting. And we have an executive branch who is wholly just beholden to this man. None of this came from Texas. None of these lines, none of this data. This is not an idea even from Texas Republicans. This is purely a directive from the Trump administration.”

In a statement shared with MyRGV.com, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder called the move “gutless.”

“Greg Abbott just told flood survivors across Texas that their suffering comes second to Donald Trump’s thirst for power,” the statement read. “He’s holding disaster flood relief hostage to steal five congressional seats — because Trump said so. That’s not governing, that’s gutless.”

“Your right to representation in your government is under attack, and Texas Democrats will protect your rights through any means necessary,” Scudder continued. “We’re backing our Democratic lawmakers who are fighting against Trump’s Texas Takeover nationwide.”

While most of the 62 Democratic state reps broke quorum, a small number stayed behind, including most of the Rio Grande Valley’s representatives. Those who stayed include state Reps. Sergio Munoz, D-Mission, Armando “Mando” Martinez, D-Weslaco, Oscar Longoria, D-Peñitas, and Terry Canales, D-Edinburg.

“I stand in solidarity with my colleagues who left the state to break quorum,” Longoria said. “They have given me the ability and task to remain at the Capitol to have the in person ability to see if a compromise can be reached and insure the rules of the chamber are being followed.”

With the news that Cornyn is seeking assistance from the FBI to find those Democrats who broke quorum, Canales called it a waste of resources.

“The idea that Senator Cornyn is using the FBI to find the Democrats who broke quorum is not only stupid but a waste of resources,” he said. “They aren’t hiding, they are holding press conferences and bringing awareness to this gross display of political corruption. If you want to find them just turn on a TV.”

Staff writer Steve Clark contributed to this report.

The post Local state reps join Democrats who broke quorum, while some stay behind appeared first on MyRGV.com.