Tag: texas

Texas Democrats Are Raging Over GOP Gerrymandering—But They Did It First

Democrats in Texas are currently accusing Republicans of using redistricting to gain a partisan advantage. This accusation, however, is both disingenuous and historically inaccurate.

When Democrats controlled the state in the 1990s, they engaged in the same tactics—so aggressively that the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ruled their districts racially gerrymandered and unconstitutional.

In 1990, Democrat Ann Richards was elected governor of Texas, and the Democratic Party controlled the state legislature. This control allowed them to redraw congressional districts to maintain their political dominance. 

State Senator Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Democrat, chaired the redistricting subcommittee and took charge of drafting the new maps. Her explicit goal was to create new minority-majority districts to favor the Democratic Party.

Johnson’s plan resulted in a majority-Hispanic district in Houston and a majority-Black district in Dallas—both aimed at consolidating long-term Democratic control. 

This political maneuvering did not go unnoticed. The newly drawn districts, which included those represented by Democrats Martin Frost and John Wiley Bryant, became more homogeneous and less politically diverse.

Despite protests, the Texas Legislature passed Johnson’s plan in 1991. Critics, primarily Republicans, argued that the maps used flawed census data, potentially undercounting minority populations.

Yet, the U.S. Department of Justice granted preclearance under the Voting Rights Act, and the new districts were used in the 1992 elections.

In 1994, Republicans filed a lawsuit, claiming that several new districts—particularly Districts 18, 29, and 30—were racially gerrymandered in violation of the Constitution. 

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TX Judge Slaps Beto O’Rourke With Fundraising Ban Over Fleeing Democrats

A Texas judge has issued a temporary restraining order against former congressman Beto O’Rourke and his nonprofit organization, Powered by People, following allegations from state Attorney General Ken Paxton that they engaged in illegal fundraising to aid Democratic lawmakers who fled the state in an effort to block Republican redistricting legislation.

Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey, a Republican appointed in 2019 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, issued the ruling Friday evening.

The order prohibits O’Rourke and his group from raising funds or providing financial support to the Democrats who left Texas to avoid a legislative vote on GOP-backed redistricting maps.

In her decision, Fahey wrote that “Defendants have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds in a manner that either directly violates or causes Texas Democratic Legislators to violate [the law].

Consumers have and continue to suffer irreparable harm through these unlawful acts because they are making political contributions that are being used to fund personal expenses and violate state law.”

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Newsom Says California Will Hold Special Redistricting Election to Counter Texas’s Plan

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Friday that the state will move forward with a ballot measure in November to redraw its congressional map in response to a Republican-backed redistricting plan in Texas.

Speaking alongside state Democratic leaders, Newsom said they would call for a special election in the first week of November to vote on redrawing the congressional map, a move that could potentially add five more U.S. House seats to the Democratic tally.

“We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what’s happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,” the Democratic governor told reporters.

“We will pick up five seats with the consent of the people, and that’s the difference between the approach we’re taking and the approach they’re taking. We’re doing it [on a] temporary basis,” he added.

Newsom also reaffirmed that the state will remain committed to its independent redistricting process. The Democrats said they expected to have a newly agreed-upon map, based on previous plans reviewed by the state’s independent redistricting commission, ready for public scrutiny next week, three months before it would go to voters.

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who attended the conference, backed Newsom’s decision and praised Texas Democratic lawmakers for their efforts to block the GOP’s redistricting plan.

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Texas AG Ken Paxton Launches Criminal Investigation Into Beto O’Rourke’s PAC For Unlawfully Funding Runaway Democrats

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s PAC for unlawfully funding runaway Democrats.

It was reported this week that Beto’s PAC funded the private plane that transported the Texas Democrat lawmakers to Illinois so they could block GOP redistricting efforts.

The Free Beacon reported:

Now We Know: Beto O’Rourke’s PAC Funded Texas Dems’ Private Jet to Illinois

State lawmakers in Texas make just $7,200 a year. A group of Democratic legislators spent roughly four times that amount to take a private jet to Illinois in an attempt to block their Republican counterparts from passing a new congressional map. But they didn’t have to worry about the price tag—because Beto O’Rourke’s PAC picked it up.

That’s according to a report in the Texas Tribune, which cited two people involved in the effort to raise funds for Texas Democrats’ walkout. O’Rourke’s PAC, Powered by People, is “armed with a $3.5 million war chest” and has covered most of the costs associated with the walkout so far, including “air transport, lodging, and logistical support,” the outlet reported. Every dollar the group receives going forward will go toward supporting the walkout.

On Wednesday, Ken Paxton announced he launched a criminal investigation into Beto’s PAC.

“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” Paxton said.

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Massachusetts Governor Criticizes Texas Redistricting – From a State With ZERO Republican Representation

Democrat Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey was asked about the effort to redraw congressional districts in Texas and criticized the move, suggesting that efforts by Democrats to do more gerrymandering in response is justified.

The irony of this is that despite the fact that about a third of the state of Massachusetts voted for Trump, there is ZERO Republican representation there.

This fact was apparently lost on Healey.

Hot Air reported:

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey now has Republicans quaking in their boots.

In response to the Texas legislature’s move to redistrict its state to create more Republican districts, Healey is making a brave stand and threatening revenge.

She, too, will redistrict the state in retaliation.

It is a frightening prospect, I know. In a state known for its fairness to Republicans, a change in attitude could have serious repercussions.

Currently, the state has nine Congressional Districts and nine Democrats representing them. Should a less favorable map be created, the state will have nine Congressional Districts and nine Democrats representing them.

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GOP Congressman Pushes Bill That Could Block Texas Republicans from Redrawing Districts to Secure House Majority

Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) introduced legislation Monday that could kneecap the GOP’s efforts to reclaim and secure dominance in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I’ve officially introduced legislation to stop Newsom’s plan to abolish the Citizens Redistricting Commission, seize its powers for himself, and remove all checks and balances in California. I’m calling on House Leadership to bring it up for a vote and end this insanity,” Kiley wrote on X.

I’ve officially introduced legislation to stop Newsom’s plan to abolish the Citizens Redistricting Commission, seize its powers for himself, and remove all checks and balances in California.

I’m calling on House Leadership to bring it up for a vote and end this insanity. pic.twitter.com/ggXDMTuYNI

— Rep. Kevin Kiley (@RepKiley) August 5, 2025

According to the press release:

“Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) will be introducing legislation to prohibit Mid-Decade Redistricting nationwide. The bill, which Kiley plans to introduce tomorrow, will nullify new maps adopted by states before the 2030 census, including any that are adopted this year.

For decades, the California Supreme Court has held that the State Constitution forbids mid-decade redistricting, and since 2010 redistricting in the state has been done by a voter-approved Independent Citizens Commission. But now, Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking to overturn that long-standing precedent, sideline the Citizens Commission, undo the will of voters, and return line-drawing power to himself and other partisan politicians. The Governor’s brazen scheme has been denounced by groups ranging from Common Cause to the California League of Women Voters.

“Gavin Newsom is trying to subvert the will of voters and do lasting damage to democracy in California,” Rep. Kiley said. “Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.””

But the problem with Kiley’s bill is that it would not only affect California, but would also ban all 50 states from redrawing their congressional maps before the 2030 census.

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Gavin Newsom’s Gerrymandering Post Backfires in Spectacular Fashion

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has moved forward with legal efforts to hold Democratic lawmakers accountable after they fled the state in protest of Republican-led redistricting efforts.

The Texas Supreme Court has now ordered Democratic State Representative Gene Wu, a central figure in the walkout, to formally respond to the governor’s legal action.

The controversy stems from a renewed push by the Texas legislature to pass new redistricting maps.

In response, several Democratic legislators left the state to prevent the Republican-controlled House from reaching the quorum necessary to conduct legislative business.

The move effectively stalled legislative action in Austin and has now resulted in potential legal consequences.

Governor Abbott’s legal filing seeks to challenge the Democrats’ decision to abandon their legislative duties.

The Texas Supreme Court’s directive to Rep. Wu marks the latest development in an ongoing standoff over the redistricting process. The Court has not yet announced a timeline for a final ruling on the matter.

While the legislative impasse continues, other state issues remain unresolved, including responses to recent flooding and other critical matters requiring legislative attention.

The walkout has drawn criticism from those who argue the legislators’ absence is hindering necessary governance.

The debate over redistricting has also spilled into the national political scene.

California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in on the matter with a post on X, where he listed red states with zero or just one Democratic House representative.

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Abbott Files Lawsuit to Remove Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu from Office

Gov. Greg Abbott has filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court seeking to remove State Rep. Gene Wu—the Texas House Democrat Caucus Chair—from office, accusing him of leading the ongoing quorum break and abandoning his constitutional duties.

The emergency petition, filed Tuesday, marks the most aggressive legal action yet in response to House Democrats fleeing the state to block a Republican redistricting plan. Abbott called Wu the “ringleader of the derelict Democrats” and cited both abandonment of office and possible bribery as grounds for removal.

“I made clear in a formal statement on Sunday, August 3, that if the Texas House Democrats were not in attendance when the House reconvened at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, then action would be taken to seek their removal,” said Abbott in a press release. “They have not returned and have not met the quorum requirements.”

According to the lawsuit, Wu and his fellow Democrats have engaged in a “willful refusal to return,” depriving the House of the quorum needed to conduct legislative business. The suit further alleges that Wu and others may have solicited and received benefits in exchange for their absence—potentially violating state bribery laws.

The move follows a string of escalating actions by state leadership. Abbott has already ordered the Department of Public Safety to arrest absent Democrats who remain in Texas, and Attorney General Ken Paxton announced earlier today he will pursue judicial orders declaring lawmakers’ seats vacant if they do not return by Friday.

If the Texas Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it could set a precedent for whether lawmakers can be forcibly removed from office for breaking quorum.

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REPORT: Plane That Carried Texas Democrats to Illinois Was Funded by Beto O’Rourke’s PAC

When Texas Democrats fled to Illinois a few days ago in an effort to stop the state legislature from moving forward with redistricting efforts, they traveled there by private plane. How did they afford such a thing? Beto O’Rourke’s PAC apparently paid for it.

This makes sense when you consider that O’Rourke has run for almost every possible office in Texas except dog catcher and has lost every time. Beto probably jumped at the chance to help these Democrats.

This news is certainly not going to help their cause with Texas voters.

The Washington Free Beacon reports:

Now We Know: Beto O’Rourke’s PAC Funded Texas Dems’ Private Jet to Illinois

State lawmakers in Texas make just $7,200 a year. A group of Democratic legislators spent roughly four times that amount to take a private jet to Illinois in an attempt to block their Republican counterparts from passing a new congressional map. But they didn’t have to worry about the price tag—because Beto O’Rourke’s PAC picked it up.

That’s according to a report in the Texas Tribune, which cited two people involved in the effort to raise funds for Texas Democrats’ walkout. O’Rourke’s PAC, Powered by People, is “armed with a $3.5 million war chest” and has covered most of the costs associated with the walkout so far, including “air transport, lodging, and logistical support,” the outlet reported. Every dollar the group receives going forward will go toward supporting the walkout.

O’Rourke’s emergence as the walkout’s financier could land him in legal trouble. Lawmakers who flee Texas to prevent the state legislature from having enough members to pass laws are subject to $500-a-day fines under Texas house rules, which also prevent walkout participants from soliciting political contributions to pay those fines. Republican governor Greg Abbott has said that “any other person who ‘offers, confers, or agrees to confer’” such contributions to the “fleeing Democrat House members” may be in violation of state bribery laws.

Is anyone surprised by this?

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Jasmine Crockett Joins Dems Who Fled Texas, Says Republicans Are ‘Weak’ and ‘We About to Beat You Down’

Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) joined Democrats who fled her state to avoid voting on redistricting, and laughably claimed it’s Republicans who are “weak.”

Crockett also amped up the incendiary rhetoric by threatening violence in the wake of the controversy that caused her Democrat colleagues to tuck their tails and run away from the Lone Star State.

“This governor talks a lot of noise, and I made sure that I put up my warrant from four years ago,” Crockett began. “To make it plain that they talk a lot of noise, but these guys are weak.”

The wannabe leader of the Democrat party is referencing the fact that she was a major player in the same stunt Texas Democrats pulled in the state in July 2021 to prevent a vote on Republican election integrity bills. It’s a good reminder that Governor Greg Abbott had better put some teeth behind his arrest threats this time around.

“The difference is they expect Democrats to kind of be the nice guys that we are,” Crockett continued her rant. “They expect us to take the punch and say thank you. Well, I am here to tell you not only are we going to punch back, but we about to beat you down.”

Narrator: Nobody expects you to be the “nice guys,” especially when a recent study has shown the left is embracing an “assassination culture.”

Paging House Republicans – When are we going to have enough of Crockett and her street threats before we censure her for them? Are we waiting for the actual violence again, like in 2020?

This is the same woman who claims violence doesn’t come from the left side of the political aisle.

“The violence doesn’t come from Democrats, just to be clear,” she told comedian Hasan Minhaj. “I mean, obviously, anyone can be a criminal, but, um, it is MAGA. It’s specifically MAGA faction.”

Violence doesn’t come from Democrats, oh, and also … “We about to beat you down.”

Aside from Crockett’s violent language, several other prominent Democratic figures engaged in similar rhetoric. Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) called the matter of fleeing to avoid a vote “an all-out war” while California Governor Gavin Newsom said the resistance party was prepared to “fight fire with fire.”

Considering their party’s rhetoric has led to multiple assassination attempts on the President, it should be taken seriously. That said, listening to them shout in defense of their colleagues who are currently hiding and dispersed throughout the country so they can avoid doing their jobs is utterly hilarious.

This is like running three blocks away from a street fight and then yelling back to your opponent, “I’m gonna kick your a**,” all while shaking a fist in the air.

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