Oregon's special legislative session aimed at passing a transportation funding package was hampered on its first day due to a lack of quorum in the House, delaying proceedings and highlighting political disagreements over tax increases and budget priorities, with Republicans proposing alternative funding strategies and unionized workers rallying to prevent layoffs.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the special session agenda to include legislation that would penalize lawmakers who leave the state to block votes, following a Democratic walkout over redistricting. The agenda also now includes bills on Ivermectin access and groundwater studies in East Texas.
Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a GOP-led redistricting plan are beginning to return, with some already back in Texas, after successfully denying a quorum and delaying the redistricting efforts that would favor Republicans in the 2026 elections. Their return follows a victory in the legislative process and a related redistricting move by California Democrats to counteract GOP advantages. GOP officials have threatened to arrest the lawmakers to ensure their attendance at the Capitol.
An Illinois judge rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's attempt to enforce arrest warrants against Texas Democrats who left the state to block a redistricting plan, citing lack of jurisdiction and insufficient legal grounds.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced discussions to potentially add more Republican congressional seats beyond the five already proposed, amid ongoing disputes over redistricting and Democratic quorum breaks in the Texas House, with legal and political battles expected to continue.
Texas Democrats are out of state to block redistricting votes, leading to a legislative deadlock, while Governor Abbott plans to call multiple special sessions to pass Republican-supported maps amid legal and political battles.
Texas Democrats are boycotting a special legislative session to block a Republican redistricting plan, leading to legal actions and efforts to arrest absent lawmakers, as the state seeks to pass new congressional maps favoring Republicans.
FBI Director Kash Patel has agreed to assist in locating Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to protest new congressional maps, as Texas Republicans seek to restore a quorum for voting on redistricting, amid allegations of bribery and legal actions by Texas officials.
The FBI has agreed to assist Texas law enforcement in locating 50 Democratic legislators who left the state to avoid a redistricting vote, with Texas officials seeking their return and potential arrest, amid escalating political tensions and legal actions.
In Texas, Democrats are boycotting a special legislative session to block a Republican-drawn congressional map, leading to a quorum crisis. Governor Abbott has called for their arrest, while Republicans defend the redistricting as lawful and necessary, citing demographic shifts and legal precedents. The standoff has stalled legislative business, including emergency relief efforts, as the political battle continues.
Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois to block a voting quorum faced a bomb threat at a hotel in St. Charles, leading to an evacuation and thorough search, but no device was found. The Democrats' move was to prevent a vote on a Republican-drawn congressional map, and the threat caused the postponement of a planned press conference.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit to remove Democratic Rep. Gene Wu from office after Wu and other Democrats left the state to block redistricting efforts, arguing their absence violated the state Constitution and broke quorum, while Wu defended his actions as fulfilling his constitutional duty against what he called a corrupt agenda.
Texas Attorney General Paxton plans to try to expel absent Democratic lawmakers if they do not return by Friday, but the legal process is complex and lengthy, involving court cases and potential special elections. Democrats have fled the state to block a new congressional map favored by Republicans, leading to a political standoff.
Texas Democrats plan to seek refuge with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to block Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts, highlighting cross-state political strategy.
Texas Republicans issued civil arrest warrants for Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to block a redistricting effort, but since the lawmakers are outside Texas jurisdiction, enforcement is unlikely. The situation highlights ongoing political tensions over redistricting and legislative procedures, with the GOP seeking to force the lawmakers' return to establish a quorum.
