Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to “locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans” after dozens of House Democrats fled the state to block a vote on a redistricting bill. “Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” he said, adding that they were “holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief.” Abbott’s order will remain in effect “until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought back to the Texas Capitol”.
In response, Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed Abbott’s stance, accusing the absent Democrats of cowardice and saying they must “be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.” Paxton cited a 2021 Texas Supreme Court precedent allowing missing members to be arrested to compel attendance and pledged to use “every legal tool at his disposal” to enforce this authority
Legislators fled to states including Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, depriving the 150-member House of its required two-thirds quorum. With at least 51 absent, the chamber lacked the minimum required 100 members, halting the special session intended to vote on new congressional maps that could yield Republicans five additional U.S. House seats.
Democrats argue they took the move reluctantly to oppose what they described as an undemocratic “rigged system.” House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu stated: “We will do whatever it takes,” while representative Trey Martinez Fischer added, “We recognized when we got on the plane that we’re in this for the long haul”. In defiance, lawmakers responded to Abbott’s demands with the phrase, “Come and take it”.
This is not the first time Texas Democrats have used a quorum break. Similar tactics were employed in 2003 and again in 2021 to block redistricting and voting restriction bills. In 2021, 52 Democrats fled to Washington, D.C., triggering arrest warrants and fines—though Republicans ultimately prevailed when several members returned after 38 days, enabling passage of the legislation.
Governor Abbott cited a nonbinding 2021 AG opinion that allows courts, through quo warranto actions, to declare that a legislator forfeited office by intentionally breaking quorum. He warned that fundraising to cover quorum fines could constitute bribery and that he would use extradition authority to pursue charges if warranted.
Democrats contend the redistricting plan pushed by Republicans, with backing from former President Trump, constitutes partisan gerrymandering designed to suppress Latino and Black representation. They argue their walkout aims to delay the vote and highlight repercussions for flood relief efforts that Republicans have deprioritized.
As the standoff continues, both parties are preparing for what may become a prolonged confrontation with high stakes: redistricting, flood recovery funding, and democratic principles on the line.
