By RJ Morales, TX3DNews Staff -August 5th 2025
More than 50 members of the Texas House of Representatives have left the state to prevent a vote on a congressional redistricting bill. The quorum break began August 3, as lawmakers departed for Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, effectively halting legislative proceedings during a special session called by Governor Greg Abbott.
The proposed legislation—House Bill 4—would redraw Texas’s congressional districts and is projected to result in as many as five additional Republican-leaning U.S. House seats.
What Is Quorum?
Under the Texas Constitution, the House of Representatives requires a two-thirds quorum—100 of 150 members—to conduct legislative business.
With only 88 Republican members, the House cannot reach quorum without at least a portion of the Democratic caucus. By leaving the state, Democrats have denied quorum, a move known as “breaking quorum,” which effectively halts all legislative activity—including consideration of House Bill 4.
While uncommon, quorum breaks have precedent in Texas politics. Similar walkouts occurred in 2003 and 2021, both tied to disputes over redistricting and voting legislation.
Why Lawmakers Left
Democratic lawmakers say the proposed redistricting map would reduce representation for minority communities and was advanced despite significant public opposition. They argue that leaving the state was the only option to prevent a vote.
“We will not be complicit in the destruction of our own communities,” said Rep. Gene Wu (D–Houston), chair of the House Democratic Caucus. “We did not make this decision lightly. But we come here today with absolute moral clarity that this is the right thing to do to protect the people of the state of Texas.”
Rep. Mihaela Plesa (D–Plano), who represents House District 70 in Collin County, also left the state. In a statement, she said the map “no Texan asked for” was rushed through and ignored public input from nine redistricting hearings. She criticized lawmakers for prioritizing redistricting over flood relief, citing recent storms that displaced families and claimed lives.
“Denying quorum is not a decision I take lightly,” Plesa wrote. “But I will not stand by and allow voices to be silenced or districts redrawn to erase representation.”
House Republicans Argue Plan Is Lawful and Data-Driven
Republican lawmakers have defended House Bill 4 as a lawful mid-decade redistricting measure that reflects shifts in Texas’s population and aligns with constitutional authority. The bill’s primary backers, including State Rep. Todd Hunter (R–Corpus Christi), stated candidly that the new map was intentionally drawn based on electoral performance.
“These districts were drawn primarily using political performance,” Hunter said during a public hearing.
Proponents argue the plan would strengthen Republican representation in the U.S. House—potentially adding five seats—while complying with legal standards for redistricting.
Governor Abbott’s Response
Governor Greg Abbott issued an official statement on August 3 condemning the quorum break and warning of legal consequences for absent lawmakers.
“Real Texans do not run from a fight. But that’s exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did.”
Abbott said the absences were not due to emergencies but were deliberate efforts to block legislation.
“Democrats hatched a deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chamber’s business.”
Citing Article III, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution, Abbott stated that when a special session is called, the Legislature “shall meet,” and that this obligation is not optional.
He set a deadline of 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4 for lawmakers to return to the chamber. If they do not, he stated he would invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382, which allows courts to determine whether a legislator has vacated their seat by intentionally breaking quorum.
“A district court may determine that a legislator has forfeited his or her office due to abandonment and can remove the legislator from office, thereby creating a vacancy.”
Abbott also raised the possibility of felony bribery charges under Texas Penal Code §36.02 for any lawmakers or supporters who solicit or accept funds to support the quorum break.
“We will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons.”
Enforcement Measures
The Texas House, under Speaker Dustin Burrows, voted 85–6 to issue civil arrest warrants for absent members. These are enforceable only within state lines.
Additionally, absent lawmakers now face $500 daily fines. State rules prohibit the use of campaign funds to pay those fines.
Impact on Other Legislative Priorities
In addition to redistricting, the special session agenda includes funding for flood recovery, property tax legislation, and a public facility access bill. With quorum broken, those items are also stalled.
The session is scheduled to end August 19, but Governor Abbott has the authority to call additional sessions if the House remains deadlocked.
TX-03 Representation
Texas’s 3rd Congressional District, represented in the U.S. House by Rep. Keith Self, is not involved in the quorum break. However, the district could be directly affected by the outcome of House Bill 4, which proposes changes to congressional boundaries statewide.
TX3DNews has reached out to U.S. Rep. Keith Self and state Reps. Mihaela Plesa (HD‑70), Jeff Leach (HD‑67), Matt Shaheen (HD‑66), and Keresa Richardson (HD‑61), whose districts fully or partially overlap with TX‑03. We are awaiting responses and will update this article with any statements they provide. Our goal is to keep TX‑03 residents informed with clear, factual reporting on the issues that impact their representation.