In an attempt to inject himself into the ongoing political turmoil surrounding Texas’ redistricting fight, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has thrown his support behind a group of Texas Democrats, offering sanctuary to lawmakers who fled their state to block a Republican-led redistricting plan.
The Democratic Governor promised to protect these legislators, who are now holed up in Illinois to avoid arrest and penalties, and insisted they were merely “following the law.”
Pritzker’s remarks came after Texas Democrats staged an unprecedented walkout, leaving the state in protest of Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts to revise Texas’ congressional map in favor of the Republican Party.
These legislative absences aim to prevent a quorum—the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business—thus hindering the passage of a redistricting plan that would give Republicans an advantage in the upcoming midterms.
During a press conference on Sunday night, Governor Pritzker said, “They’re here in Illinois. We’re going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that they’re doing the right thing. We know that they’re following the law.”
It’s unclear exactly how fleeing the state and avoiding the legislative process could be considered “following the law,” but Pritzker seems eager to become a hero for Democrats who are trying to escape their responsibilities.
“It’s Ken Paxton who doesn’t follow the law. It’s the leaders of Texas who are attempting not to follow the law,” Pritzker added, with a dramatic flair, as if he were some sort of political savior. In his eyes, the act of helping Texas Democrats run away from their duties is a noble cause, and the Republican leadership of Texas should be held “accountable” for even attempting to pass a redistricting plan.
For the record, Pritzker is the same Governor who has been embroiled in his own controversies and has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. He has long been a figure of irony, especially considering his own political situation.
Pritzker, like many other Democrats, regularly praises “democracy” while simultaneously trying to dictate terms for anyone who doesn’t agree with him.
In an attempt to thwart the redistricting process, dozens of Democratic lawmakers in Texas decided to flee the state, just like they did during the 2003 redistricting standoff. Rather than facing the fight head-on, they decided it would be better to abandon their posts and go on a mini vacation in Illinois.
They, of course, skipped town right before the all-important votes on the new congressional maps. In doing so, they ensured that the Texas House would be unable to meet the quorum required to pass the legislation.
Texas Democrats, who believe the redistricting plan is unfair, have long criticized the GOP’s strategy of altering the district boundaries to favor Republicans.
According to the Texas Democrats, this is “political maneuvering” designed to unfairly stack the deck against the party. Yet, rather than working through the legislative process to make their case, they chose the path of avoidance.
And where did they go for refuge? Illinois. Pritzker’s state. While Texas Democrats may have their reasons for fleeing, their decision to set up camp in a state as corrupt as Illinois raises some eyebrows.
After all, Illinois is a state plagued by political scandals, with some of the worst fiscal and governance records in the country.
But here is the real kicker: Pritzker is now publicly touting Illinois as the sanctuary for the Texas Democrats, the state that will shield them from any consequences, all in the name of political righteousness.
Of course, this comes with a bit of irony, as Illinois is hardly the model of good governance.
Governor Pritzker’s leadership in Illinois has been criticized for a number of issues. From ballooning state debt to a poor track record on transparency, Pritzker’s own state has struggled to keep its own house in order. In 2021, Illinois was ranked among the worst states in terms of fiscal health.
Yet here he is, pretending to take the moral high ground by providing refuge to Texas lawmakers who are, essentially, doing the exact opposite of their sworn duty. The Texas House was designed to function with everyone in attendance, and their absences should be seen for what they are—a blatant disregard for democratic principles.
But instead of prioritizing good governance, Pritzker has decided to play politics with the situation, offering sanctuary to lawmakers who choose to bypass the democratic process rather than engage in it.
Illinois voters, of course, will get to weigh in on Pritzker’s “leadership” in future elections, but for now, the Governor seems happy to throw the state’s political weight behind a group of lawmakers who prefer running from the fight.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Republican leaders quickly condemned the actions of the fleeing Democrats. Abbott, in particular, issued a stern warning, emphasizing that absconding from the legislative process would not be tolerated.
He accused the Democrats of running away from a legitimate legislative issue, calling their actions cowardly.
Abbott, a staunch conservative, said, “Real Texans don’t run from a fight.”
Abbott’s comments were made in reference to the fact that every state representative has a responsibility to participate in the legislative process and cast votes on bills. Running away to another state to avoid doing so isn’t just unproductive—it’s a violation of their role as public servants.
Abbott and other Republican officials in Texas have also warned that these absent lawmakers could face penalties of up to $500 per day, with the possibility of arrest for failing to return to the legislature.
But in a stunning response, Texas Democrats, who were now camped out in Illinois, issued a blunt rebuttal: “Come and take it.”
As the Texas Democrats stand firm in their protest, Pritzker continues to stand behind them. “They’re doing the right thing,” he asserted, completely ignoring the irony of politicians hiding from their duties in a state notorious for its own problems. The situation sets a dangerous precedent.
Allowing legislators to escape their responsibilities in one state and seek refuge in another undermines the very principles that underpin representative democracy.
However, despite the drama, both sides know that the stakes are high. Redistricting is an issue that impacts both the political landscape and the future of the country, and the Texas redistricting battle could have serious implications for the midterm elections in 2022.
While the Texas Democrats continue their protest, there are still opportunities for negotiations or even potential legal challenges to the proposed map.
While all of this political drama unfolds, it’s important to consider the bigger picture. Both blue and red states are constantly revisiting their congressional maps as they aim to maximize their party’s power in future elections.
This “redistricting arms race” continues to inject uncertainty into the outcome of elections across the country.
In this case, while Texas Republicans are pushing for a new map that favors their party, Democrats are using their best tool to resist: fleeing.
The very same people who protest Republican efforts to gerrymander districts across the country are now using the same tactics to try to block those efforts in Texas. Politics, it seems, has become a game of whoever can exploit the system the best.
As this political standoff continues, one thing is clear: neither side is willing to back down. Abbott and his team are determined to pass the new map, and Texas Democrats remain committed to stopping it at all costs. Governor Pritzker’s decision to offer sanctuary to these lawmakers adds fuel to the fire and further complicates the redistricting battle.
What remains to be seen is whether the national media will continue to give attention to this spectacle or if voters will hold both sides accountable for what is rapidly becoming an embarrassing display of political gamesmanship. For now, the only thing that is certain is that the redistricting fight in Texas is far from over—and neither the Democrats nor Republicans are going down without a fight.
