Texas Democrats took a potentially costly risk this week by fleeing the state to avoid a controversial vote on a new Congressional district map that they’ve denounced as unnecessary, illegal, and racist.

The bold choice to “break quorum” will inevitably delay, but not halt, legislation that the Dems actually want to pass, like improved communications and disaster recovery protocols in the wake of the July 4 Hill Country floods.

The lawmakers fled to Chicago, Boston, and New York and have vowed to stay until Governor Greg Abbott’s 30-day special session expires August 19. The inability to do business without at least 50 members of the Texas House puts work on pause, but Abbott can call the elected officials back as many times as he wants through the end of next year.

It’s unlikely that t

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