Texas Republicans are trying to find a way to help maintain the slim House GOP majority in the U.S. Congress by implementing new redistricting that allows state members to make Democratic districts more GOP-friendly.
In the past, Democrats have stopped moves like this by vacating the state and blocking a quorum cal — but Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), came up with a new strategy, tying aid for flooded parts of Texas to a redistricting vote. So, Democrats couldn't flee the state to avoid redistricting unless they also want to hold up funding for people in the flood zones.
Houston Chronicle reporter Jeremy Wallace noted in a panel discussion with MSNBC host Chris Jansing Monday that he spoke to state Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Democrat from the Houston area, who fears that, if they did leave, President Donald Trump could take drastic measures to stop it.
"If they did a quorum break, they're expecting that Donald Trump and the White House could send National Guard troops to track them down and bring them back to the state," Wallace said.
"What?" Jansing exclaimed.
"They're preparing for that kind of, you know, brass knuckles kind of fight over this issue," said Wallace.
The risk, Wallace said, is that there are Republicans in Congress who narrowly won in 2024 are facing election in a midterm year that is known for being unfriendly to the incumbent party of the president. Therefore, redistricting could make those seats even more competitive by redistributing GOP voters.
"Think Dan Crenshaw, think Troy Nehls, think Michael McCaul," Wallace said. "All those folks barely won their races in 2018 and 2020. When they go into redistricting, all three of those guys might be facing much more competitive seats. The Democrats are telling me they are going to fund whoever runs against them to the hilt to try to stop them."
Jansing confessed, "I've got to tell you, Jeremy, I covered the state capitol in Albany for 17 years. I thought that was crazy. But you guys win."
See the clip below or at the link here.