Texas Senate Passes New Congressional Map, Dems React By Storming Out

The Republican-controlled Texas Senate on Tuesday approved a congressional redistricting plan that could create up to five new GOP-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The measure passed 19–2 along party lines after nine of the chamber’s 11 Democrats walked out, leaving the floor largely empty.

The absence was a protest against what Democrats described as a “corrupt process,” but unlike in the Texas House—where Democratic members have denied a quorum for weeks—it did not halt the vote.

“This mid-decade redistricting isn’t about fair representation—it’s about politicians picking their voters instead of voters choosing their leaders,” the Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement after exiting the chamber.

They argued the special session should have been focused on flood recovery and other urgent needs, not political boundaries. However, Republicans can easily make the counter-argument that all of these votes would have made it to the floor.

The newly passed Senate map mirrors the proposal introduced in the Texas House last month. That version cleared a House committee before the quorum break stalled progress. Republicans contend the changes reflect population shifts; Democrats insist the intent is to lock in long-term GOP dominance.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, praised the vote and vowed to keep re-passing the measure if needed.

“The Texas Senate will continue passing this map each legislative session to accurately reflect our state until House Democrats return from their ‘vacation’ and get back to work for the people of Texas,” Patrick said.

🚨 BREAKING: The Texas Senate has officially PASSED the new U.S. House Maps, as Democrats STORMED OUT of the chamber 🤣

The Dems are BIG mad.

Now all it needs is House approval and Republicans will pick up potentially 5 U.S. House seats! 🔥

🎥 @dallasnews pic.twitter.com/lyIL6ixhcO

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 12, 2025

Gov. Greg Abbott also seemed to take a hard line, pledging to call as many special sessions as necessary until the map and other Republican priorities are enacted.

“Democrats can run to another state, but they can’t outrun the will of Texans,” Abbott said on X. “If there’s no quorum Friday, Special Session #2 will start immediately after Sine Die. Same agenda, with potential to add more. I’ll call special after special until the Texas first agenda is passed.”

Republican Phil King, who led the Texas Senate’s redistricting push, rejected Democratic claims that the map is unconstitutional.

“No one has presented data, or frankly any compelling case that this map violates any applicable laws,” King said.

Beyond the Texas fight is a broader national battle. Republican leaders began seriously considering mid-decade redistricting after allies of former President Donald Trump urged Texas lawmakers to seize the opportunity to increase GOP representation in Washington. The move has already drawn “warnings” from Democrats in states like California and New York, where governors Gavin Newsom and Kathy Hochul have hinted at their own partisan redistricting efforts in response.

However, blue states are already heavily gerrymandered to favor Democrats, therefore, attempting to get more seats may be like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.

For now, the map’s fate is in limbo. The Senate has done its part, but the Texas House cannot vote until Democrats return. The deadline for the current special session is August 19. If the House remains without a quorum, Abbott’s next special session could begin immediately, prolonging the standoff indefinitely.

While the political implications of the map have dominated headlines, another question is beginning to surface: whether the prolonged absence of House Democrats could trigger legal consequences. Under Texas law, absent lawmakers can face civil arrest to compel attendance, and Republican leaders have already authorized the sergeant-at-arms to bring missing members back to the chamber.

As the stalemate drags on, the fate of the new districts—and the legal fallout for the missing Texas Democrats—will define the next phase of the fight.