Why are Texan Democrats on the run?

Americast

BBC

Politics, Government, News

4.2 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 8 August 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on Monday: “There are no rules anymore, apparently,” as he stood alongside the Democrat lawmakers who fled Texas to prevent a vote which would redraw the state’s political map in favour of the Republican Party.

It is a process known as ‘redistricting’, which normally occurs at the end of each decade when the census takes place. But in a move designed to give the Republicans a crucial advantage heading into the 2026 Midterms, Donald Trump wants it to take place now. It would give Republicans five extra seats in the House.

It is an unconventional request by Donald Trump’s administration, but Democrat governors are now threatening to do the same thing in their states, including California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Presenter Justin Webb and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, discuss whether this a fight the Democrats can win, and whether this is an audition for some 2028 presidential hopefuls. They are joined by special guest Steve Israel, former New York Congressman (2001-2017)

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This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:05.0	They say everything's bigger in Texas, even the news, and it seems it is.
0:09.6	A plan by Texas Republicans to redraw the electoral map has drawn attention from right around the nation.
0:16.7	It would create five new Republican-leaning seats in the House of Representatives.
0:21.1	The Democrats say they're not going to go down without a fight.
0:23.9	Blue states, Democratic states, saying they are pledging to gerrymander their own maps in response.
0:30.2	Here is the Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker.
0:33.0	When they're taking it upon themselves to thwart the will of the American people.
0:37.6	Well, they say, when Donald Trump calls, they say, yes, sir, right away, sir, happy to lick your boot, sir.
0:45.0	When Donald Trump says jump Greg Abbott and Ken Paxson say, how high?
0:50.5	Those two individuals, very prominent Texas Republicans.
0:53.7	So, with the midterms coming up, this is the battle that could reshape Congress
0:58.3	and thus President Trump's entire second term.
1:02.9	Welcome to AmeriCast.
1:06.3	AmeriCast from BBC News.
1:09.5	God spared my life for a reason. Only when it is dark enough,
1:15.7	can you see the stars. A star is born, Elon. I'm not just MAGA. I'm dark Gothic MAGA.
1:22.8	This is what happens when the machine comes after you. I'm terrified for this country, and I'm so hurt that America let this happen.
1:29.8	I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.
1:49.0	Hello's Justin in the worldwide headquarters of AmeriCast in London, England.
1:53.5	And it's Anthony in the American headquarters of Ameriast in Washington, D.C.
1:54.5	The sub-office.
	...

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