Democrats Mobilize to Stop Texas GOP’s Redistricting Power Grab
In an emergency strategy call Wednesday, top Democrats launched a counterattack against what they call an “egregious” mid-decade redistricting scheme unfolding in Texas — one they say threatens the future of democracy itself.
Hosted by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), the event titled Stop the Texas Takeover, brought together a powerhouse roster including former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Texas state Rep. Gene Wu (D).
Together, they laid out a full-spectrum plan to fight back — in court, on the ground and through the airwaves.
“Republicans are doing this because they’re scared of facing the voters. Instead of competing, they are resorting to blatant cheating to hold onto power before a single ballot is cast in the 2026 midterms,” Holder, the NDRC’s chairman, said. “We have a lawsuit that’s ongoing right now. We ain’t going anywhere.”
In a show of interstate solidarity, Pelosi confirmed that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is exploring a ballot referendum aimed at countering the redistricting efforts — part of what she called a broader national strategy.
“We want the people and the legislators in Texas to know they’re not alone in all of this,” Pelosi said. “In California, the governor has called for a referendum to see if we should be able to win a referendum, and then to redraw the lines in a way that counters what they’re doing in Texas.”
But among the most probable resistance plans is that Texas Democrats may break quorum or even stage walkouts — high-stakes tactics reminiscent of their 2021 voting rights protests.
While no official confirmed that Democrats will walk out of the Texas Legislature, Casar strongly suggested that breaking quorum is under consideration.
“We have a great tradition in Texas of Democrats, willing to break quorum, walk off the House floor and shut down business as usual,” Casar said. “We’ve got to be able to support them because they might be risking arrest, but we need to show them support all over the country to buy us time.”
In a letter sent to Republican leaders earlier this week, House Democrats warned that if they try to fast-track Trump’s redistricting plan, they’ll find no willing partners on the other side of the aisle.
“Democrats in Texas and everyone else — we are ready to do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to fight this and to save our nation,” Wu said in the call.
In Texas, public redistricting hearings continue this week with in-person events scheduled in Austin, Houston and Arlington, as well as virtual hearings.
Attendees were urged to take immediate steps, from showing up to redistricting hearings to contacting lawmakers through an online tool that sends a pre-written message demanding fair maps and texting ACTION to 36787 for mobilization updates.