A standoff in Texas over redrawn U.S. House maps escalated as dozens of Democratic lawmakers fled the state to block a vote on a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm prospects.
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Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Democratic state lawmakers from across the U.S. and their supporters protest outside the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
Texas State Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, speaks in a crowd of other Democratic state lawmakers outside the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Democratic state lawmakers from across the U.S. and their supporters protest outside the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
Texas State Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, speaks in a crowd of other Democratic state lawmakers outside the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Boston. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu is silhouetted by the setting sun as he boards a bus following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, leaves following a press conference with other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rep. Al Green speaks during a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows looks on during a roll call in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Texas Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, left, shares a laugh with Rep. John Lujan, R-San Antonio, as they enter the House chambers of the State Capitol at the Texas Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
A map of U.S Congressional Districts proposed plan is seen at a Texas legislators' public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Rep. Al Green, left, and State Representative Ramon Romero, Jr. talk after a news conference in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Democratic Texas Rep. Gene Wu, center, speaks with the media following a press conference with other Texas House Democrats and Democratic members of Congress at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Empty chairs belonging to House Democrats remain empty during a session convocation in the State Capitol, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
