Texas Democrats who fled the state in an attempt to derail a mid-decade redistricting effort are finally returning, according to their caucus.
The cave from the state lawmakers ends weeks of hiding out in Democrat strongholds such as Illinois.
Their return paves the way for the state to complete its revised 2026 congressional map.
State Rep. Gene Wu, who leads House Democrats, tried to spin the retreat as a victory.
“We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation—reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,” Wu told CNN.
“We’re returning to Texas more dangerous to Republicans’ plans than when we left.”
But the fact remains that the Democrat walkout only delayed the inevitable.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wasted no time, calling a second special session immediately after the first expired last Friday.
“There is critical work that is left undone,” Abbott declared in a statement on X.
“Texas will not back down from this fight.
“That’s why I am calling them back today to finish the job.”
The House convened on Monday at noon, allowing the Republican majority to resume business.
A new congressional map could be finalized by the end of the week.
Democrats had been holed up in Illinois since August 4, avoiding arrest warrants and $500-per-day fines ordered by Abbott for abandoning their posts.
At the start of the quorum break, Abbott vowed that once the lawmakers set foot back in Texas, “they will be arrested and brought back to the Capitol and we will be conducting business.”
He later suggested their actions constituted “an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office,” giving him authority to fill vacancies.
The walkout wasn’t just about maps.
By fleeing, Democrats also stalled action on lowering property taxes, setting state education benchmarks, and addressing recovery from the devastating July 4 floods.
Those measures are now back on the table as the new session begins.
Meanwhile, the fight has spilled across state lines.
Blue-state governors are threatening to redraw their own congressional districts in retaliation.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded with characteristic bluster, claiming Democrats would “fight fire with fire.”
“Whatever they are doing will be neutered here in the state of California, and they will pay that price,” Newsom warned.
But beyond the political theater, the Democrats’ stunt sets a dangerous precedent.
Instead of showing up to debate, vote, and represent their constituents, they ran away to another state to block the democratic process.
Texans elected these lawmakers to legislate, not to collect a paycheck while hiding out across state lines.
Their refusal to do the job they were elected to perform undermines confidence in the very system they claim to be defending.
For Republicans, the return of the runaway Democrats means business can finally move forward.
For Texans, it’s a stark reminder of how far the Left will go to protect its power, even if it means abandoning the people they swore an oath to serve.
READ MORE – Obama: Texas Democrats Who Fled Redistricting Vote Are ‘Inspiring’
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