Texas Senator Ted Cruz expresses displeasure over Texas Democrats leaving the state

In a twist of political irony, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has found himself at the centre of a new controversy, as his Cancun trip during a 2021 power crisis in Texas resurfaced, casting a shadow over his recent criticism of Democrats fleeing the state.

Cruz, who has been vocal about the Democrats' absence that prevents the Texas House of Representatives from reaching quorum, was criticised for his hypocrisy, given his own Cancun scandal. The senator travelled to Cancun during the winter storms, leaving many Texans without power, a decision he later admitted was a mistake.

The Democrats' exodus is an attempt to prevent the House from passing controversial redistricting plans. The new plans for the congressional map of Texas would create five additional districts that voted for former US president Donald Trump in last year's election. This move has been met with opposition from local Democrats, who have branded it a "Trump gerrymander."

Ted Cruz intervened in the situation by making a comment on Twitter about Democrats possibly having dinner with California Governor Gavin Newsom at a famous California restaurant. However, his comment backfired as people pointed out his own controversy about not being in Texas when people expected him to be.

Newsom, who has responded to comments made against him by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with sarcasm on Twitter, used Cruz's Cancun trip as a point of criticism against him. Julián Castro, the former US housing secretary, compared Cruz's Cancun trip to the Texas Democrats' protest, saying "I'd sit this one out, Ted."

Mehdi Hasan criticised Cruz's comment as a half-decent burn, but noted that it was hypocritical given his own Cancun scandal from four years ago. Another user directly criticised Cruz, saying "Says the f*ing ahole who fled to Cancun?"

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued comments saying that lawmakers who refuse to do their jobs and run away to other states are not tolerated in Texas. Paxton and Texas House speaker Dustin Burrows have even filed a legal complaint in California to carry out arrest warrants issued by their state's House of Representatives against the fleeing Democrats.

This is not the first time Democratic politicians from Texas have fled the state to prevent a redistricting plan. Previous instances include 2021 and mid-2025, when they did so to handle political disputes around election district changes.

The standoff between the Democrats and Republicans in Texas continues, with the Cancun trip of Senator Cruz serving as a reminder of the potential consequences of political absences during critical times.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz expresses displeasure over Texas Democrats leaving the state