When Democrats Run, I Stay and Lead

While Texas Democrats are flying off to California and Illinois to coordinate political attacks, I’m exactly where you elected me to be: at the Capitol, doing the work.

This special session includes redistricting and it wasn’t called on a whim. It was triggered by a formal letter from President Trump’s U.S. Department of Justice, which determined that several congressional districts in Texas—particularly in Houston and Fort Worth—may violate constitutional standards. The DOJ specifically raised concerns about four “coalition districts” that grouped together different racial and ethnic communities in ways that could amount to racial gerrymandering.

Let’s be clear: this is not about politics—it’s about law. When a federal court and the DOJ raise legitimate concerns about the constitutionality of your maps, you at least take a serious look at them. That’s what responsible governance requires—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

But instead of staying in Austin and participating in the process, some House Democrats have taken the same path they did in 2021: they ran away. Back then, they broke quorum and fled to Washington, D.C. to avoid voting on election integrity reforms. This time, they’ve flown to California and Illinois to ask liberal governors to retaliate against Texas.

Same stunt, different day.

And let’s be honest—these Democrats can’t stand anything that comes from President Trump, even when it’s rooted in law. If the Department of Justice under President Trump raises valid legal concerns, they dismiss it as political. This isn’t about fairness to these liberal lawmakers—it’s about resistance for resistance’s sake.

Texans deserve better. I’m not here to chase headlines—I’m here to follow the Constitution, work through the issues, and stand up for the good people of House District 13.

Let’s not forget: some of the same Democrats who cry foul over Texas are now pushing for aggressive partisan redistricting in Illinois, New York, and New Jersey to “balance out” what Texas is doing. If they were truly concerned about fairness, they’d start in their own backyard.

Here in Texas, we believe in doing things the right way. That means following the law, listening to the courts, and showing up to do the job.

I won’t cave to pressure. And I won’t let California or Washington bureaucrats dictate how we govern Texas.

You sent me here to lead—and when others run, I stay.

Make sure you stay connected and informed about the legislative process by calling our Capitol office at (512) 463-0600 or by following my social media page at www.facebook.com/AngeliaOrrForTX.

– Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr