By Douglas V. Gibbs
Let’s not sugarcoat it. When the Democrats fled the Texas legislature to block redistricting, ironically to Blue States guilty of the worst kind of gerrymandering, they didn’t just abandon their posts — they abandoned the Constitution. They hijacked the legislative process, disrupted the republican form of government, and thumbed their noses at the very principles that hold this republic together.
This wasn’t civil disobedience. It was constitutional sabotage.
The Framers saw this kind of stupidity coming. Back in 1787, the Founding Fathers wrestled with a fundamental question: Should the federal government have the power to override state laws? Their answer was nuanced. States would retain sovereignty — except in matters so vital to the survival of the republic that federal oversight was essential. Elections were one of those matters.
That’s why Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to “make or alter” state regulations regarding federal elections. The clause wasn’t an afterthought — it was a safeguard. A firewall against state-level manipulation that could undermine the integrity of congressional representation.
And let’s be clear: redistricting directly affects federal elections. Gerrymandering isn’t just a political trick — it’s a threat to the republican form of government. That’s why Article IV, Section 4 guarantees that every state shall maintain a republican form of government. When legislators flee to prevent quorum, they’re not just playing politics — they’re violating the very structure of our constitutional republic.
In short, what the Democrats pulled was a Constitutional Dereliction of duty.
The Democrats’ stunt in Texas wasn’t just cowardly — it was constitutionally corrosive. By fleeing the state, they obstructed the legislature’s duty to redraw congressional districts. They interfered with the process that ensures the kind of representation established by the Constitution. And they did it to preserve a gerrymandered map that benefits their party at the expense of the people.
This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about process. It’s about the rule of law. And it’s about whether we still believe in the Constitution or whether we’ve surrendered to political theater.
When it comes to certain issues, Federal Authority is not optional. Let’s be honest: I’m no fan of federal overreach. But when it comes to federal elections, the Constitution is crystal clear. Congress has the authority to intervene. If Texas can’t resolve this chaos, Congress can — and should — step in. They can pass legislation to redraw the districts themselves. They can restore order to a process that’s been hijacked by partisan fugitives.
This isn’t a power grab. It’s a constitutional duty.
The Democrats in Texas didn’t just flee the state — they fled responsibility. They fled accountability. And they fled the Constitution. The Founding Fathers foresaw this kind of lawlessness. That’s why they gave Congress the power to act.
If this circus doesn’t end soon, Congress must intervene — not to punish, but to preserve the republic.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary