Patti Vasquez is joined by Texas Democratic State Rep. Chris Turner, who discussed the ongoing effort of Democratic Texas state legislators to block passage of a Republican congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms. By leaving the state, the Texas Democrats have denied quorum to the Republican-controlled chamber and brought the legislature's 30-day special session to a halt. Like many in the Texas House Democratic Caucus, Turner is currently based in Illinois.  

In the conversation Turner pointed out that the GOP's mid-decade redistricting violates the Voting Rights Act and noted the overwhelming opposition of Texans to the Republican power grab. He also described the rushed redistricting process in Texas, where public hearings were held before the new map was introduced and the map was rushed through the legislative process. Turner stressed the importance of standing up to Trump's dictatorial actions and protecting democratic institutions. 

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

And find the "Driving It Home (Full Episodes)" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.