As Texas House Democrats once again deny quorum over Republican-led redistricting efforts, marking the first Democratic walkout in more than four years.
It’s worth looking back at the showdown in 2021, when Democratic lawmakers staged a walkout to block a controversial GOP voting bill.
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The last walkout
In May 2021, Texas House Democrats made national headlines by leaving the chamber during the legislative session, successfully preventing the passage of Senate Bill 7, which would later become SB 1.
Critics of SB 1 argued that the sweeping election legislation would restrict voting access, particularly for communities of color. The bill included provisions to limit early voting hours, ban drive-thru voting, and increase criminal penalties for election workers.
READ MORE FROM THE TRIBUNE: How Texas Democrats splintered, ending quorum break
The walkout temporarily stalled the legislation, but Republican leaders quickly called a special session to revive the bill.
In July 2021, more than 50 Democratic House members escalated their protest by flying to Washington, D.C., with the goal of convincing Congress to pass federal voting rights protections.
A standoff lasting several weeks followed, with some Democrats eventually returning and restoring quorum, allowing Republicans to move forward with the bill.
SB 1 became law in Sept. 2021. It faced multiple legal challenges and drew criticism from civil rights groups, who warned it would disproportionately impact voters of color, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Despite ultimately being unable to stop the bill, Democrats’ 2021 walkout created national attention and brought temporary momentum to the broader voting rights debate in widespread American communities.
Now in 2025
As House Democrats walk out once again over what they describe as a “rigged” redistricting map, it can be interpreted as a new chapter of the same worries.
“We take seriously our oath to represent our constituents,” Senate Democrats said in support of the current protest. But when the system is being rigged to steal political power and ignore the needs of flood survivors, extraordinary measures are necessary."
While the circumstances differ four years later, Texas Democrats are proving once again they are willing to walk out in protest of controversial legislation. Whether this new protest will have the same national resonance remains to be seen.
Articles and information from The Texas Tribune and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Read more here and here.
