Texas Democrats flee state to block Trump-backed redistricting vote in dramatic legislative move

Dozens of Texas Democrats are fleeing the state to block a redistricting vote that could benefit Republicans, marking a dramatic effort to derail an upcoming legislative process.

At least 100 members of the 150-member Texas House must be present to conduct business. Josh Rush Nisenson, the spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus, told The Associated Press that at least 51 Democratic members are leaving the state.

Republicans currently hold 25 of the state’s 38 seats. They are being supported in their efforts to redistrict by President Donald Trump.

The redistricting proposal, which was introduced by Texas House Republicans last week, would likely net five new Republican U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm elections. 

TEXAS MAP FIGHT ESCALATES AS JEFFRIES VOWS ‘ALL OPTIONS’ TO STOP GOP PLAN

Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, defended the Democrats' last-ditch effort in a statement on Sunday.

"This is not a decision we make lightly, but it is one we make with absolute moral clarity," Wu said.

But leaving the state could expose the Democrats to penalties, including fines, and Attorney General Ken Paxton previously threatened to arrest them over the civil violation.

"[T]hey should be found and arrested no matter where they go," the attorney general said.

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Although the proposal could still change, its current design would tilt traditionally Democratic cities like Dallas and Houston in favor of Republicans.

A previous Fox News Digital report found that the new gerrymandered map would move Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett out of her own district.

DNC Chair Ken Martin showed support for Texas Democrats on Sunday, writing that "[f]or too long, Donald Trump and Republicans have tried to get away with rigging the system, breaking the rules, and scheming to hold onto power."

"The DNC is proud to support these legislators in standing up and showing real leadership," he said. "We will fight alongside them to stop this anti-democratic assault. And, after this fight is done, we’re coming full force for the Republicans’ House majority."

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dustin Burrows issued a warning to Democrats on Sunday.

"The Texas House will be convening at 3:00pm tomorrow," he wrote on X. "If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table. . ."

Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias, Maggie Kerkman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Oasis fan dies in tragic fall during Wembley Stadium show on band's world tour

Oasis band members were "shocked and saddened" by a fan's death at their latest Wembley Stadium show.

Officers from London's Metropolitan Police force responded to reports of an injured person on Saturday night.

Paramedics arrived at the scene just before 10:30 p.m. and discovered a man in his 40s "with injuries consistent with a fall," a spokesperson for the Met told Fox News Digital.

The unnamed individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

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"The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage," authorities said.

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The band was "saddened" to hear of the fan's death in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show last night," the band's representatives said. 

"Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved."

Three more concerts are scheduled at Wembley as part of an Oasis world tour.

Noel and Liam Gallagher embarked on a comeback tour in July — a series of concerts marking the first time Oasis has performed together since the band broke up in 2009.

The brothers announced their reunion and global world tour last year.

"Oasis today end years of feverish speculation with the confirmation of a long awaited run of UK and Ireland shows," the band’s website stated. 

"The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised." 

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Oasis split in 2009 after many years of infighting, with Noel officially leaving the band just before a performance at a festival near Paris. 

Even before the dissolution, the brothers had long had an antagonistic relationship and reportedly did not speak to each other for years after the breakup.

"People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer," Noel, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, wrote in a statement at the time of the split.

In 2011, Noel told The Associated Press in an interview that he left the band after an incident where Liam started wielding a guitar "like an axe... and he’s swinging this guitar around and he kind of you know, he took my face off with it, you know?"

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In 2019, Liam told the AP he was ready to reconcile.

"The most important thing is about me and him being brothers," he said. "He thinks I’m desperate to get the band back together for money. But I didn’t join the band to make money. I joined the band to have fun and to see the world."

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

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