Just hours after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a legal victory against Beto O’Rourke’s political action committee, Powered by People, O’Rourke responded with a forceful message to Democrats nationwide. Speaking at a rally in Fort Worth, the former congressman and presidential candidate urged Democratic-led states to redraw congressional maps immediately to maximize their party’s advantage and counter Republican redistricting efforts in Texas.

Powered by People has been a vocal supporter of Texas Democrats who fled the state in 2021 to prevent a legislative quorum. Their walkout blocked several Republican-backed measures, including redistricting plans and emergency aid for flood victims. Without the required two-thirds quorum, the Texas House was unable to conduct official business, making the Democrats’ absence a critical political maneuver.

At the rally, O’Rourke delivered a fiery and profanity-laced speech. He called on Democrats in states such as California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Maryland to act swiftly and unilaterally. “We punch first, and we punch harder,” he said, characterizing the fight over political maps as a battle Democrats must not lose.

In a controversial moment, O’Rourke dismissed traditional rules and legislative decorum. “F\*\*k the rules. We are going to win whatever it takes,” he said, urging Democrats to be as aggressive with redistricting as Republicans have been, signaling a no-compromise approach in the battle over congressional power.

However, many of the states O’Rourke referenced have already implemented congressional maps that strongly favor Democrats. For instance, in Illinois, Republicans earned 46% of the 2024 vote but secured just 3 out of 17 seats. Similarly, in California, despite winning over 40% of the vote, Republicans hold only 9 of the state’s 52 congressional seats—demonstrating how partisan gerrymandering already benefits Democrats in several regions.

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