Texas Democrats who fled the state in a last-ditch effort to prevent their Republican colleagues from carrying out a partisan, mid-decade redistricting effort say they are ready to return — provided several conditions are met.
First, they want the state House’s special session to end Friday as planned. Second, they insist California Democrats formally introduce a proposal to carry out their own partisan, mid-decade redistricting effort, a move that would potentially offset the gains made by Republicans in Texas who expect to gain five or more congressional seats through the controversial gerrymander.
“Now, as Democrats across the nation join our fight to cause these maps to fail their political purpose, we’re prepared to bring this battle back to Texas under the right conditions and to take this fight to the courts,” Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the state House Democratic caucus, said in a statement provided to multiple outlets Thursday.