The Texas House of Representatives has achieved a quorum for the first time in two weeks, following the return of Democratic lawmakers who staged a walkout in protest of the Republican-led congressional map.
With a quorum now in place, the House can proceed with its legislative business, including the potential passage of the new map.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican, emphasized the need for swift action, stating, “let me also be clear about where we go from here. We are done waiting. We have a quorum. Now is the time for action. We will move quickly, and the schedule will be demanding until our work is complete.”
Burrows also clarified that lawmakers who had left the state and were subject to civil arrest warrants would only be permitted to leave the legislature if they agreed to have a state trooper assigned to ensure their return.
The return of Democratic lawmakers follows intense pressure from Governor Greg Abbott, who had taken emergency action to begin removing the absent legislators from office.
Abbott had ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest and return the “runaway Democrats” who had fled the state to prevent a quorum.
The governor’s actions led to a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court to clarify his authority to remove the legislators from their offices.
The development in Texas is part of a broader redistricting battle unfolding across the country. California lawmakers are set to return from recess to consider a special election in November and approve a new congressional map.
This move is seen as an effort to offset the potential gains the GOP could make in Texas, where the new map could lead to the party picking up five US House seats. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a key proponent of this effort, pushing for a map that would benefit his party.
With the Texas House now having achieved a quorum, the stage is set for the legislature to pass the new map, potentially paving the way for significant changes in the state’s congressional representation.
The outcome of this redistricting battle will likely have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in the US House of Representatives.