Meet Jolanda Jones and Borris Miles: Black Texas Lawmakers Fighting Redistricting

The Texas House reconvened today, but failed to reach a quorum for the second day in a row as the Democrats, who left the state in an orchestrated effort to delay the state’s Republican-led legislature from moving forward with its redistricting map that would create five more GOP congressional seats, show no signs of returning home soon.

One of the Texas lawmakers who fled to New York, state Representative Jolanda Jones said that Texas Governor Greg Abbott is “trying to get soundbites” by threatening to arrest the lawmakers who have left the state.

President Donald Trump says the FBI “might have to” locate the lawmakers. Trump’s statement comes hours after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the state police to locate the lawmakers. However, the civil arrest warrants that have been issued do not extend beyond the state of Texas, and the 50 Democrats involved in the redistricting protest are in predominantly blue states like Illinois and New York.

Jones held back tears as she discussed the decision she and her legislative colleagues have made.

“I can’t imagine living in a time with no voting rights; I can’t imagine living in a time with no civil rights, but that’s where we are,” Jones said. “Yes, it’s hard. I have a granddaughter. I adore her. I miss her, but I’m going to have to be okay with FaceTime because I can’t come back to see her. There’s not a doubt in my mind that the Texas State Troopers will arrest me, and if I’m arrested, I literally can’t fight for democracy, so I’ve got to sacrifice. It is what it is. It makes me sad, but it is what it is.”

Texas State Senator Borris Miles released a statement announcing his support of Jones and the other legislators who broke quorum. 

Miles wrote, “It is a blatant racist power grab. The ramifications of this [mid-decade redistricting] are not just a danger to Texas; they will ripple through this country, threatening the fabric of our entire nation.”

Miles said he and other Texas lawmakers will meet with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures Annual Summit in Boston to discuss ways to “sound the alarm.”

In Illinois – another blue state – the absent Texas lawmakers have received support from Governor JB Pritzker, and the Democratic National Committee Chair, Ken Martin, said they will “fight fire with fire.”

Pritzker added, “We’re going to everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that – ‘cause we know they’re doing the right thing, we know that they’re following the law.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, “That’s why the gloves are off, and I say, ‘Bring it on.” Hochul and other political leaders in blue states have begun talking about redistricting drives to form maps favorable to Democratic candidates.