‘Very Damaging’: Dem Strategist Fears TX Redistricting Stunt Will Cost Party

Doug Schoen, a longtime pollster and Democratic Party strategist, believes that the party’s stunt aimed at preventing redistricting in Texas will come back to haunt them in future elections.

After Texas lawmakers advanced a number of measures out of committee last week — including vital aid for flood victims in Kerr County and a redraw of the state’s congressional map — Democrat House members fled to blue states in order to block a vote .The Texas House – which is currently comprised of 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats – cannot take scheduled votes unless two-thirds of its members are present.

In order to prevent that, State House Democrats have fled to neighboring blue states such as Illinois and Colorado in order to prevent the Republican super majority from executing their agenda. “This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity,” Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.

Republicans have responded to Democrat outrage over the new maps — which are set to draw out at least five Democrat-majority districts as things currently stand — by pointing to gerrymandering in blue states. In Illinois, House Republican candidates received 46 percent of the vote in 2024, though the party only controls three of 17 seats.

In Massachusetts, President Donald Trump received 36 percent of the vote in 2024, though Republicans are currently shut out not only in Massachusetts, but all of New England. California Governor Gavin Newsom has also received criticism over his round-the-clock outrage over the new maps and threats to retaliate, with many pointing to the fact that the proposed Texas maps provide more representation to Democrat voters than California’s “independent commission” maps do to Republicans.

This, among other things, leads Schoen to believe that Democrats do not stand to benefit from the current back-and-forth over redistricting. “I think this is very damaging, Trace, to the Democratic brand,” the veteran political strategist told Fox News’ Trace Gallagher.

“For those in my party who say we should be aggressive, we should fight the Republicans, I think you stand and fight, not cut and run, which is what they’ve done. This sends a terrible message, I think, to voters generally and certainly swing voters,” he said of the absent Democrat lawmakers.

Schoen also noted that redistricting has become “tit for tat,” as several Republican-controlled states have announced similar plans for redistricting that could lead to upwards of 15 Democrat districts being drawn out.

“I would advise the Democratic legislators from Texas, go back, make your arguments, state your reasons for, as the Democratic representative did just now, opposing this and say what you’re for, what the Democrats stand for, both Texas and nationally. But so far, what we’re getting is a really, really terrible image that hurts our country and certainly hurts my party.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action aimed at declaring seats held by absent Democrats vacant so that votes could be held on the majority’s legislation.

“Democrats have abandoned their offices by fleeing Texas, and a failure to respond to a call of the House constitutes a dereliction of their duty as elected officials,” the attorney general said in a press release. “Starting Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the House will be held accountable for vacating their office. The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines. If you don’t show up to work, you get fired.”

Under Article III, Section 13 in the Texas constitution, vacancies in the legislature due to death, resignation or removal and are required to be filled through special elections. The section does not specifically list absence as a cause, however.

Paxton’s press release cites previous state Supreme Court races prohibiting minority factions from improperly blocking the majority’s business, including a 2021 case that authorized arrest for quorum breakers.

“By removing themselves from the State for the explicit purpose of interfering with the proceedings of the Texas Legislature, Democrats are refusing to perform their duties in a manner that amounts to abandonment of office,” the release continued. “If the runaway members of the legislative minority do not return to the House and resume performance of their duties by the deadline, Attorney General Paxton will seek judicial relief confirming that their office is vacant.”