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Texas Democrats said Wednesday they will “issue demands” for a planned second special session as they consider whether to return to Austin when the current special session adjourns Friday.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers fled Texas this month, denying the Republican-led legislature the quorum it needs to redraw congressional districts in a bid to pick up five House seats for the GOP.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, says he is prepared to call session after session until the legislature passes his “Texas First” agenda, forcing Democrats to weigh their next move.
A statement from House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu stopped short of vowing a return to the statehouse, though KTRK television in Austin reported that they plan to return.
Mr. Wu said Democrats would focus on relief for victims of devastating floods in Hill Country, hoping to put the onus on Mr. Abbott to focus on broad priorities instead of redistricting.
“Texas House Democrats will issue our demands for a second special session on Friday,” Mr. Wu said. “Abbott can choose to govern for Texas families, or he can keep serving Trump and face the consequences we’ve unleashed nationwide.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sought to expel 13 House members who fled the state, and he wants to jail former Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke for fundraising in support of the fleeing Democrats.
Mr. Wu seemed to claim victory on Wednesday, pointing to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to fight fire with fire and redraw his state’s boundaries in favor of Democrats.
“We’ve fundamentally changed the rules of this fight. California is moving forward with plans to flip five Republican seats, and blue states nationwide are mobilized and ready to act if Abbott moves forward with this nationally damaging redistricting scheme,” Mr. Wu said.
Redistricting — the process of drawing new legislative maps — usually only happens after the decennial census, though there is no federal prohibition on it happening in the middle of a decade.
Indeed, New York, controlled by Democrats, redrew its lines last year, helping to capture three seats from Republicans in November’s elections.
Democrats say Mr. Trump sparked the new fight by prodding Texas to follow New York’s lead.
The Trump Justice Department sent a letter suggesting that some Texas districts drawn to give Black voters an overwhelming say in the outcome of elections may no longer be justified by the law.
Mr. Abbott has cited that letter as a prod for his actions.
“Texas’ new congressional maps follow the law and reflect the will of the voters. It will ensure communities can choose leaders who share their values and priorities,” the governor wrote Wednesday on X.
The Texas Senate approved new congressional maps this week, and the governor said he won’t back down in the state House after its initial special session adjourns Friday.
“The Special Session #2 agenda will have the exact same agenda, with the potential to add more items critical to Texans,” he said. “There will be no reprieve for the derelict Democrats who fled the state and abandoned their duty to the people who elected them. I will continue to call special session after special session until we get this Texas first agenda passed.”
Mr. Newsom, in California, is using the issue to taunt Mr. Trump and his GOP allies with social media posts that mimic the president’s style.
One of the latest posts, written in all-caps for emphasis, suggested California redistricting would effectively “end” Mr. Trump’s presidency.
“Donald ’Taco’ Trump, as many call him, ’missed’ the deadline!!! California will now draw new, more ’beautiful maps,’ they will be historic as they will end the Trump presidency (Dems take back the House!),” Mr. Newsom’s office wrote. “Big press conference this week with powerful Dems and Gavin Newsom – your favorite governor– that will be devasting for ’MAGA.’ Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
• Stephen Dinan contributed to this report.
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