House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has lauded Texas Democrats for their refusal to participate in a vote on a Republican-led redistricting plan, a scheme that could potentially transfer five congressional seats to the GOP.
This refusal involved a dramatic exit from the state to disrupt quorum. Jeffries' commendation is part of a larger Democratic strategy to undermine Republican-led election reforms while pushing their own partisan maps in staunchly Democratic states.
According to Breitbart, Jeffries stated, Democrats in the Texas state legislature have righteously refused to vote on a gerrymandered congressional map that is designed to rig the midterm elections for House Republicans.
He further praised the Texas Democrats for their "courage, conviction and character," describing their actions as "the embodiment of good trouble" in the face of "the extremism Donald Trump has unleashed on the American people."
This statement follows reports that Texas House Democrats fled to Illinois to disrupt quorum and block a vote on the revised congressional map. Jeffries has previously expressed his trust in elections overseen by Democratic leadership, voicing concerns about the potential outcomes in states where Republicans hold sway.
When questioned about the perceived hypocrisy of Democrats employing the same tactics they accuse Republicans of, Jeffries remained unflinching. He acknowledged that the maps in New York "are not as fair as they could be," but insisted that Democrats in New York, California, and New Jersey were striving to make the maps "as fair as possible."
This stance highlights Jeffries' belief that Republican-led redistricting equates to 'rigging the election,' while Democrat-led map changes are portrayed as efforts to ensure fairness.
The situation in Texas has escalated into a tense standoff. The Democrats' walkout disrupted quorum, effectively paralyzing the state legislature and stalling a scheduled vote on the redistricting plan. Texas House Democrats accused Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Republican leadership of exploiting the recent Hill Country floods, which claimed over 130 Texan lives, as "political cover" to push through a map designed to flip five congressional districts in favor of the GOP in the 2026 midterm elections.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized the lawmakers for shirking their duties, stating, Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.
The redistricting bill, penned by State Rep. Todd Hunter (R), includes "newly drawn districts now trend Republican in political performance," but he noted that "it doesnt guarantee electoral success." He added, "Thats up to the candidates, but it does allow Republican candidates the opportunity to compete in these districts.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) vehemently criticized the proposed map, revealing during a legislative hearing that it would place her outside of her own district. She stated, I do not currently reside in my district based upon the plan that has been drawn, which is another red flag. She further described the situation as a "hot mess," lamenting the lack of integrity among those pushing for the changes.
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