The Killer Ds were a group of Texas House Democrats who left Texas for Ardmore, Oklahoma during the week of May 12, 2003. The Killer Ds left to prevent House consideration of the redistricting legislation that would have benefited Texas Republicans. The Texas Constitution requires 100 representatives, or two-thirds of the 150-member House, to conduct business in the lower chamber. The absence of 52 House Democrats prevented Republican passage of the redistricting plan during the 2003 regular session. The Killer Ds were followed by a group of 11 Senators, called the Texas Eleven, who fled the state in August 2003 for the same reasons.

In 2013, there are only 95 Republican House Members and 19 Republican Senators. Without the participation of Democratic lawmakers, neither chamber of the legislature would have a quorum necessary to do business. A Special Session can run for as long as 30 days, so there is no chance of a filibuster or parliamentary delay to prevent the passage of a draconian anti-choice bill that would severely limit women's reproductive health options in Texas by closing 37 of the 42 clinics that offer abortion services and outlawing abortion at 20 weeks, even though federal law allows for abortions until 28 weeks. Passage of legislation of this kind will not result in a decrease in the number of abortions but rather will reduce the number of safe options that a woman has by putting the legislature between her and her doctor in regards to her reproductive health and future.