• Gov. Greg Abbott vows to call special session after special session until key bills are passed.
• Democratic lawmakers have fled Texas to block a redistricting vote that could flip up to five seats.
• Texas Senate advances agenda despite House stalemate and looming August 19 deadline.

AUSTIN, TX (TDR) — Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed what political observers in Austin have long suspected: he will keep the Texas Legislature in special sessions until his priorities are signed into law. Speaking bluntly, Abbott told NBC News, “I’m going to call special session after special session” if House Democrats refuse to return.

Special Session Powers and Scope

The current special session, convened July 21, includes 18 legislative items ranging from Hill Country flood relief to a sweeping congressional redistricting plan. Under the Texas Constitution, a special session lasts 30 days, but there is no limit to how many can be called.

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Abbott’s declaration follows a dramatic walkout by more than 50 House Democrats on July 27. Their exodus to Illinois was designed to deny the House a quorum and block votes, particularly on Senate Bill 4, a redistricting map that Republicans say could flip up to five Democratic-held seats.

Escalating Legal and Political Confrontations

The Texas House responded by suing 33 Democrats, and Abbott has authorized law enforcement to locate and arrest them if they return to Texas. On Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court set a 5 p.m. Friday deadline in Abbott’s lawsuit seeking the removal of Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat and one of the walkout leaders. Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have signaled they will push for removals if absentees do not return.

Meanwhile, the Texas Senate is pushing ahead, passing SB 4 out of committee with a 6–1 vote and sending it to the floor.

Why Republicans Want Maps Now

Senate Republicans argue the maps are needed due to population growth, changing voter patterns, and the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that the Voting Rights Act does not protect coalitions of multiple minority groups. Abbott says waiting until 2030 would disenfranchise voters.

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Republicans note that after the 2024 election, a record number of Hispanic and Black Texans supported GOP candidates, including President Donald Trump. “A lot of people who voted Republican, who voted for Donald Trump, were trapped into Democrat districts,” Abbott said.

Democrats Push Back

Democrats counter that the move is a partisan power grab that dilutes minority voting strength. Progressive groups have vowed to challenge the maps in court, pointing to prior gerrymandering battles.

With 11 days left in the session, the Senate has passed measures on property tax reform, protecting women’s spaces, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, and enhancing title fraud protections.

Looking Ahead to More Sessions

Abbott has already signaled that he will call lawmakers back for another round, with some insiders expecting him to stack sessions back-to-back to keep pressure on Democrats.

Legislative committees are also at work. A Senate committee discussed replacing the STAAR test, while a House panel examined improving flood and emergency response — though the House’s lack of quorum casts doubt on the immediate impact.

Will Democrats’ flight stall Abbott’s agenda, or will repeated special sessions break their resistance?

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