Yesterday, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, DNC Chair Ken Martin stood side by side with Texas Democrats and Illinois Democrats, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, to take on Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s corrupt plan to discriminate against Texas voters and rig congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms while exploiting the pain of Texas flood victims. As Texas Republicans ignore the needs of their own constituents to bend the knee to Donald Trump and attempt to rig their congressional maps to cling to their razor-thin majority, Democrats are standing up for Texans and for democracy in America.

Take a look at some of the coverage below: 

On Broadcast: 

On MSNBC: “Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin joined some of the Texas Democrats in Illinois this morning to convey support from the National Party. ‘I am here because the DNC is standing shoulder to shoulder with them every single step of the way. And let me tell you something. We are supporting them, not because it’s a political fight, although it is, not because it’s a necessary fight, although it is. We are supporting them because this is a moral fight, a fight worth fighting with every tool at our disposal. Democrats are going to fight this tooth and nail until the will of the voters is respected. This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are going to fight fire with fire.’”

On MSNBC: “This is the third event that Texas Democrats have had in the Chicago area since they landed here Sunday night. And the message that you continue to hear is that, one, they are ready for this fight, but two, that they need others to help them in this fight. And they’re getting that help when you look at Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, providing logistical support for their efforts, even the fact that you have DNC chair Ken Martin here supporting them and speaking with them. … ‘We can’t be the only ones expected to play by the rules anymore. They are trampling our Constitution. They are actually going after voting rights in this country, and what this requires right now is us. The rules have already been broken. Now it’s gloves off. They decided to break the rules, but we’re going to respond in kind.’”

On MSNBC: “‘The Trump-Abbott gerrymander is a test case for the rest of the country. What Republicans are trying to do in Texas is a model for other red states to lie, cheat and steal their way to victory. Democrats are going to fight this tooth and nail. This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are going to fight fire with fire.”

On CNN: “Here’s what Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin had to say about it: ‘Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, they said they wanted a showdown. And guess what? That’s exactly what they’re getting: a showdown. This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, right? Which would bring a pencil to a knife fight. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight. We’re going to fight fire with fire, and we’re going to do everything we can right now to stand up against this unconstitutional power grab by the Republicans.’”

On NewsNation: “Meanwhile, DNC Chair Ken Martin joining Texas Democrats in Chicago, appearing alongside Governor JB Pritzker. Martin called the proposed Texas map a craven power grab, and insisted Democrats are not backing down. ‘They’re trying to disenfranchise Texas voters by packing and cracking them into districts to dilute their voting power, a clear and blatant violation of the Voting Rights Act. This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are going to fight fire with fire.’” 

On Fox News: “Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state troopers to arrest and return Democrat lawmakers who have fled to stop the vote from happening. Here is what DNC chair Ken Martin had to say about that. ‘What Republicans are trying to do in Texas is a model for other red states to lie, cheat and steal their way to victory. Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules while the other party has completely ignored them. They decided to cheat, and we’re gonna respond in kind.’”

On ABC 7 Chicago: “The DNC Chairman, Ken Martin, traveling to Illinois today to show his support for the movement. ‘What Republicans are trying to do in Texas is a model for other red states to lie, cheat and steal their way to victory. They don’t give a damn about the will of voters or their needs. In fact, they’d rather bend the knee to Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. than advocate for Texas. It’s insulting, it’s shameful, and it’s wrong.’”

On CBS News Chicago: “The Chairman of the DNC, Ken Martin, will join Governor JB Pritzker here in Aurora to kind of stand behind these Texas lawmakers who have fled their state to stop Republicans from redrawing district lines in their favor. These top Dems noting this is one day before the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.”

In Print: 

Politico: Texas AG Paxton will try to expel Texas Democrats if they don’t return by Friday

[Andrew Howard and Aaron Pellish, 8/5/25]

“‘Democrats are going to fight this tooth and nail until the will of the voters is respected,’ Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said during a press conference Tuesday. ‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight.’”

Fox 7 Austin: ‘Time for y’all to love America again’: Texas Dems in Illinois call on Republicans to ‘be brave’

[Steven Ardary, 8/5/25]

“On Tuesday, Texas Democrats held a news conference with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin to urge Texas Republicans to reconsider a midterm redistricting plan spurred by Trump to add five new Republican seats to the U.S. House of Representatives. …

“Martin said Trump and Republicans were using Texas as a ‘test case’ for redistricting across the country.

“‘What Republicans are trying to do in Texas is a model for other red states to lie, cheat, and steal their way to victory,’ Martin said. ‘They don’t give a damn about the will of voters or their needs. In fact, they’d rather bend the knee to Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. Then advocate for Texas.’”

NOTUS: Democrats Go All In on Partisan Redistricting

[Emily Kennard, 8/5/25]

“Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin urged members of his party to forget their usual rulebook and go all in on partisan redistricting Tuesday.

“Martin made his comments in Illinois, where most of the fleeing Texas Democrats headed to prevent their state Legislature from reaching the quorum needed to consider Republicans’ proposed map that could earn them five additional seats.

“The prominent Democrat championing this strategy demonstrates that his party is increasingly ditching play-by-the-old-rules tactics that have limited its ability to push back on Republicans’ pursuit of power at every level of government.

“‘This is not the Democratic party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party,’ Martin said. ‘We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are gonna fight fire with fire.’

“Martin acknowledged it’s an about-face from Democrats’ usual high road of speaking out against and trying to legislate around the partisan manipulation of congressional districts. But he said that as President Donald Trump and Republicans go to greater lengths to try to seize power, Democrats can’t just ‘roll over.’

“‘It didn’t have to be this way,’ Martin said, arguing that Texas Republicans’ moves threaten the principle of democratic representation so much that a nationwide redistricting war is ‘a fight worth fighting with every tool at our disposal.’ …

“‘Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules while one party has completely ignored them. They’ve decided to cheat, and we’re gonna respond in kind,’ Martin said. ‘None of us wanted to be here.’”

Politico: Playbook PM: The redistricting race rolls on

[Bethany Irvine, 8/5/25]

“In Illinois: Texas House Democrats who fled to Chicago joined Gov. JB Pritzker and other state lawmakers at a joint news conference today to lambast the GOP-led effort as a violation of basic democratic principles. Flanked by Washington lawmakers and DNC Chair Ken Martin, Texas House Rep. John Bucy told reporters: ‘I didn’t run for office to walk out of the Capitol, but I also didn’t run for office to stand by while democracy is stolen in broad daylight … Texas Democrats broke quorum because sometimes, the only way to uphold your oath is to refuse to play along with a rigged game.’”

Washington Post: Texas GOP governor sues to remove Democratic leader amid election map fight

[Patrick Marley, Hannah Knowles, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Molly Hennessy-Fiske, 8/5/25]

“At a news conference in suburban Chicago held before Abbott filed his lawsuit, Democrats said they were prepared to fight.

“‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to a knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party,’ said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, echoing other party leaders who are eager to show a frustrated liberal base that they are taking action. ‘We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are going to fight fire with fire.’”

Associated Press: Trump’s redistricting fight could broaden and last a while with Texas and California as epicenters

[Bill Barrow, Nadia Lathan, and Michael R. Blood, 8/5/25]

“National Democratic Chairman Ken Martin said Trump and compliant Republicans are subverting democracy out of fear given the president’s lagging approval ratings and voter angst over the massive tax and policy bill he signed last month.

“‘Republicans are running scared that voting for this monstrosity will make them lose their majority, and it certainly will,’ Martin said in Illinois, where multiple Texas Democrats have settled temporarily to deny their Republican colleagues a quorum in Austin.”

KRLD: DNC Chair stands with Texas House Democrats breaking quorum over redistricting

[Eric Bushman, 8/6/25]

“The Democratic National Committee is standing shoulder to shoulder with House Democrats who face fines and arrests if and when they return to Texas. DNC Chair Ken Martin calls it a moral fight.

“‘A fight worth fighting with every tool at our disposal,’ Martin said. ‘A fight for the fundamental value that voters should get to choose their leaders and not the other way around.’”

Chicago Sun-Times: Pritzker says Illinois remap is possible as DNC chair vows to fight Texas GOP efforts ‘tooth and nail’

[Tina Sfondeles, 8/5/25]

“Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday opened the door further to a potential mid-decade congressional remap in Illinois, as Texas Democrats continued their Midwestern refuge and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin vowed to fight GOP efforts ‘tooth and nail.’

“‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party,’ Martin said at an Aurora news conference alongside Pritzker and Texas Democrats. ‘We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we’re going to fight, fight and fight.’ …

“Martin told reporters the DNC is prepared to follow the lead of governors who opt for a remap to counter GOP efforts.

“‘Every governor and other electors are going to have to make their own decisions about what they do. All of them feel, as I do, that this is a serious matter that requires us to put every option on the table,’ Martin said. ‘It’s up to the governors, the Democratic legislators and the people of those states to make the decisions on how best to move forward on this. And of course, we support their efforts. … We’re going to follow their lead. If they choose to do something, of course we’re going to support their efforts.’”

CNN: Texas Rep. Wu defends leaving state to forestall redistricting vote after Abbott seeks his removal from office

[Steve Contorno and Tori B. Powell, 8/5/25]

“Texas Rep. Gene Wu accused Gov. Greg Abbott of using ‘the law as a weapon to silence his people,’ and defended his decision to flee the state to forestall a vote on new congressional maps. …

“Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin also defended Wu, saying in a statement that he and his fellow Democrats ‘are performing their duties as elected officials by standing up for the rights of Texans to have free and fair elections.’

“Martin called Abbott’s plea for Wu’s removal ‘morally repugnant’ and ‘a weak attempt at Trump-style intimidation.’”

Axios Chicago: Pritzker says redistricting Illinois could happen if Texas continues push

[Justin Kaufmann and Zachary Basu, 8/5/25]

“Tuesday’s press conference featured Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Ken Martin, Illinois and Texas state lawmakers and some of Texas’ congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Al Green. …

“‘Democrats are fighting back,’ Martin said. ‘The Constitution is under assault. Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules while the other party has completely ignored it. They’ve decided to cheat, and we’re going to respond in kind.’”

USA Today: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker rallies with Texas Democrats, calls Trump a ‘cheater’

[Phillip M. Bailey, 8/5/25]

“‘Donald Trump is a cheater… and if they’re going to cheat, then all of us have to take a hard look at what the effect of that cheating is on democracy, and that means we’ve all got to stand up and do the right thing,’ Pritzker said at an Aug. 5 press conference, flanked by Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin along with Texas Democrats and others. …

“Asked if Texas is providing Democratic-controlled state leaders with a roadmap on how to draw their own maps, Martin told reporters at the press conference that the party will fight back in the same way.

“‘Our constitution is under assault. Voting rights are being completely violated,’ he said. ‘Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules while the other party has completely ignored it.’”

NBC News: Texas Republicans blocked again from moving forward with their redistricting plan

[NBC News, 8/5/25]

“Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who attended the same news conference, told NBC News that his party should use ‘all tools at their disposal,’ noting the possibility that other GOP-controlled states like Ohio and Missouri could try to change their maps, too. …

“Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said today that his party is ‘not rolling over’ to Trump as he warned that Texas Republican attempts to go through with emergency redistricting would only spur other states to do the same.

“Martin joined Gov. JB Pritzker and a throng of Texas House Democrats who have been taking refuge in the blue Midwestern state since Sunday to break a legislative quorum back home. 

“He pledged to help Democrats fight attempts by Texas Republicans to redraw the state political map to yield its party potentially up to five more congressional seats, a request that publicly came from the president.  

“‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandparents, who would bring a pencil to a knife fight,’ Martin said. ‘This is the new Democratic Party that will bring in a knife to a knife fight.’” …

Washington Examiner: Texas Democrats plan to stay in Illinois to thwart GOP redistricting effort

[Lauren Green, 8/5/25]

“The press conference, where the Democrats were joined by Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin and Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), comes on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act to fight against the attempted redistricting taking place during a Texas special session. The special session is also being used to address the fatal floods in the state last month.”

The Hill: Illinois lieutenant governor responds to Texas redistricting: ‘Nothing will be off the table’

[Caroline Vakil, 8/5/25]

“‘We have a message for President Trump and Gov. Abbott: We are watching you,’ Stratton told reporters during a press conference, which included Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Texas Democrats. …

“‘Republicans are running scared that voting for this monstrosity will make them lose their majority, and they certainly will, which is why they’re trying to disenfranchise Texas voters by packing and cracking them into districts to dilute their voting power, a clear and blatant violation of the Voting Rights Act,’ Martin said, referring to Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill.” 

Click 2 Houston: DNC Chair stands in solidarity with Texas lawmakers in Illinois blocking redistricting vote

[Ahmed Huble, 8/5/25]

“As a political chess match wages on against Texas lawmakers and an attempt to block a vote on a ‘rigged’ congressional redistricting map, officials with the Democratic National Committee are joining the effort.

“DNC Chair Ken Martin was in Illinois along with other representatives from Texas to demonstrate solidarity among fellow democrats.

“‘They’re standing up for the Constitution, they’re standing for democracy, they’re for the voices of their constituents,’ he continued. ‘There is nothing more American than calling out corruption.’ …

“‘It’s clear that Republicans would rather play politics with our elections than support flood victims,’ Martin added. ‘They’d rather cheat than try to campaign on their failing record, a failing record which, by the way, includes voting for Trump’s budget bill, which rips away health care for up to 1.7 million Texans. Republicans are running scared that voting for this monstrosity will make them lose the majority, and it certainly will.’”

Politico: Texas AG Paxton will try to expel Texas Democrats if they don’t return by Friday 

[Andrew Howard and Aaron Pelish, 8/5/25]

“‘Democrats are going to fight this tooth and nail until the will of the voters is respected,’ Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said during a press conference Tuesday. ‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight. This is a new Democratic Party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight.’”

Deseret News: Democratic colleagues across the country support lawmakers who fled Texas

[Caitlin Keith 8/5/25]

“During the news conference in Chicago, the Republican plan to redraw congressional lines was also criticized by Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin.

“‘They’ve decided to cheat, and we’re going to respond in kind,’ Martin said, per CNN.

“‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to the knife fight,’ Martin added. ‘This is a new Democratic Party; we are bringing a knife to a knife fight, and we are going to fight fire with fire.’”

Springfield State Journal-Register: Pritzker calls Trump a ‘cheater’ as he rallies with Texas Democrats

[Tom Ackerman, 8/5/25]

“Texas Democrats again made public comments in Illinois on Aug. 5, standing alongside Illinois’ governor and the Democratic National Committee’s chair, who said that amid redistricting efforts, “(Republicans) have decided to cheat, and we’re going to respond in kind.”

“DNC Chair Ken Martin made the comment during a question and answer session following the press conference. More than 50 democrats, according to some reports, left Texas on Aug. 3 to deprive Republicans of a necessary 100-member quorum to vote on redrawn maps for congressional maps in the state.

“‘Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules while the other party has completely ignored them,’ Martin said.”

Chicago Tribune: ‘They decided to cheat.’ National Democrats, Gov. JB Pritzker vow to do whatever it takes to win redistricting battle.

[Olivia Olander and Rick Pearson, 8/6/25]

“As Texas House Democrats hunker down in Illinois and other blue states to try to stop a Republican-led redistricting plan in their state, national Democrats and one of their hosts, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, ratcheted up their rhetoric Tuesday, saying anything goes in the face of such Republican aggression.

“‘We’re fighting for democracy. There are no rules anymore, apparently,’ Pritzker said as he stood alongside Texas Democratic lawmakers and the head of the Democratic National Committee. ‘And so we’re going to have to play by a set of rules that, well, that are being set out in front of us, which frankly none of us believes is the right way to operate.’ …

“‘Now is not the time for one party to play by the rules,’ Martin said as he was joined by Pritzker and the Texas lawmakers in suburban Aurora. ‘They decided to cheat, and we’re going to respond in kind.’ …

“Martin called Abbott’s lawsuit ‘baseless’ and ‘morally repugnant.’

“‘It’s a weak attempt at Trump-style intimidation. Rep. Gene Wu and the Texas Democrats are performing their duties as elected officials by standing up for the rights of Texans to have free and fair elections,’ Martin said in a statement. ‘If Trump and Abbott can successfully remove lawmakers representing the will of their constituents, we do not have a democracy anymore.’”

Washington Post: Texas election map fight swells into national political warfare

[Hannah Knowles, 8/6/25]

“The Democratic posture was clear at a Tuesday news conference in Illinois where a host of party leaders rallied to Texas Democrats’ side. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate who welcomed the Texas legislators to his state, called the fleeing lawmakers ‘heroes.’ Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton — who is running for U.S. Senate in a competitive primary — spoke at the event, too, saying that ‘nothing will be off the table’ to respond to Republicans’ moves in Texas.

“‘This is not the Democratic Party of your grandfather, which would bring a pencil to a knife fight,’ declared Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin. ‘This is a new Democratic Party. We’re bringing a knife to a knife fight.’”