Democracy, Texas Style

The Don of Pennsylvania Avenue just riled up a bunch of cowboys

Texas Democrats Run for Democracy

In case you missed it, democracy is on the run.

And where else would it be running from but Texas?

Texas loves to boast that everything’s bigger in the Lone Star State. And this year, they’re delivering big time. Big drama. Big stakes. Big power grabs. Yeehaw!

There’s a political standoff brewing in Austin, the state’s capital. With the 2026 midterms looming, the Don of Pennsylvania Avenue is worried he might lose control of the U.S. House. So he called in a favor. And Texas Governor Greg Abbott—never one to deny a favor to the Don—obliged by calling a special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional maps. The goal? A mid-decade gerrymander that could net Republicans up to five additional House seats. That’s five more chances to tip Congress in the Don’s favor.

Though not illegal, mid-decade redistricting like this is rare. States usually wait until after the census to adjust political boundaries, ensuring the maps reflect real population changes. But this isn’t about demographics. It’s about power.

Texas Democrats, to their credit, aren’t playing along. As the minority party, they can’t stop the gerrymandering with a vote, but they can stop the legislature from functioning. By fleeing the state, they’ve denied Republicans the quorum needed to pass the new maps. No quorum, no vote. No vote, no gerrymander. The Don doesn’t get his wish.

So, what happens next?

Governor Abbott’s options are limited. Each special session he calls lasts 30 days, but he can call as many as he wants. In theory, he could keep calling sessions into next year, hoping to exhaust the Democrats. But time isn’t entirely on his side. Candidate filing for the 2026 election primaries ends late this year. If the maps aren’t finalized before then, it’s game over for redistricting—at least for this election cycle.

Abbott is also hitting Democrats with $500 daily fines and has issued civil arrest warrants for their return. But those only apply within Texas. As long as the Democrats stay out of state, they’re safe.

And the Democrats? Their best and only option is to stay out of Texas. It’s a bold choice, and unfortunately, it involves significant financial and personal sacrifices. Many of them have jobs, families, and lives to attend to. Remaining in political exile through Christmas might seem extreme, but that’s what it will take. They can hope that public opinion will turn against the GOP, or that Governor Abbott will simply give up. But in the worst case, they’re doomed to live in exile at least until December.

So here we are. Neither side can move without the other blinking. It’s the political version of a Texas Hold ’em showdown. Yeehaw! It’s a high-stakes game with no folding.

Meanwhile, democracy is ducking for cover.

Originally published on the Frontline Progressive, August 4, 2025