On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made a bold move, ordering the civil arrest of Democratic lawmakers who skipped town to obstruct a vote on a congressional redistricting designed by Republicans. This has intensified a standoff that is throwing the legislative session into disarray.
The absence of these Democrats resulted in a lack of quorum, meaning the House couldn’t proceed with a debate to reconfigure the state’s congressional districts—which would add five seats favored by Republicans. This situation prompted a call for the civil arrests from Republican lawmakers.
“As a consequence of their failure to fulfill their duties,” House Speaker Dustin Burrows declared on Monday, “following House rules, I’m ready to support a motion to call the House back to order and take any other actions needed to ensure the return of absent members. If the motion passes, I’ll sign the arrest warrants for those who won’t come back.”
Just moments after the session closed, Abbott took to X with a “Breaking News” banner, announcing his order for the arrest of Democrats who left Texas.
Governor Abbott’s Strong Statements Amid Quorum Crisis
Abbott indicated he would take steps to remove lawmakers from office if they didn’t come back after цельюmany of them fled to avoid voting on the redistricting maps sought by President Trump before the 2026 midterm elections, despite a questionable legal standing for such actions.
“To those currently absent, return now,” urged Burrows. “Demonstrate the bravery needed to tackle the issues for which you were elected and fulfill your responsibilities. We will not be silent while you block the people’s work.”
Rep. Charlie Geren, a Republican from Fort Worth, invoked a motion for the “Sergeant of Arms, or designated officers, to summon absent members whose absence is unexcused, potentially under the threat of arrest, and to ensure this order remains in place past today’s adjournment until further notice from the House.” This motion passed overwhelmingly, with a vote count of 85 to 6.
“The attention of Texas citizens and the nation is on this, and be aware, your choices have consequences,” Burrows emphasized.
In a conversation with CBS News, Democratic Rep. Ann Johnson strongly criticized the unfolding events, saying, “This is not normal. We can’t allow a situation where those opposing us politically are arrested for simply expressing their views, something protected by our state constitution. Breaking quorum is a right written into that constitution; threatening arrest should alert many to the serious implications of where we’re headed.”
Democratic Legislators Retreat from State in Protest
On Sunday, House Democrats headed out to locations such as Illinois and New York while Abbott issued them a 24-hour ultimatum to return, escalating the far-reaching dispute over congressional mapping that originated in Texas but might encourage other Democratic governors to consider redrawing their own state’s districts in retaliation. Yet, their options might be somewhat limited.
The sticking point here revolves around Trump’s efforts to add five additional congressional seats in Texas that would enhance his party’s prospects of maintaining a slim majority in the U.S. House.
Democratic State Rep. James Talarico criticized Abbott’s approach, stating, “He’s trying to silence Texans’ voices and undermine their right to elect officials of their choice, echoing Donald Trump’s authoritarian tendencies we must collectively safeguard against.”
The proposed redistricting led by Texas Republicans would tilt toward adding five more GOP-friendly seats, laying in a state where Republicans currently command 25 out of 38 congressional seats.
Originally, a scheduled vote on these maps in the Texas House could not happen without the majority of Democrats present to establish a quorum. One group of Democrats found itself roaming the streets of Chicago over the weekend, where Illinois Governor JB Pritzker welcomed them, though they did not disclose how long they planned to remain away from Texas.
“We are committed to doing whatever it takes, though the specifics remain unclear,” stated State Rep. Gene Wu, who leads the Texas House Democratic Caucus.
However, these legislative walkouts usually serve only to postpone bill passage—just like in 2021, when many of the same Democrats vacated Texas for 38 days in protest against stricter voting rules—returning only to see Republicans push that measure through regardless.
Now, Governor Abbott is taking a tougher tack, promptly informing Democrats he’ll seek to oust them if they are MIA when the House gathers again Monday afternoon. He referenced a non-binding 2021 legal view from Attorney General Ken Paxton suggesting courts could rule a legislator forfeited their office.
He raised the matter of lawmakers potentially committing felonies by fundraising for coverage of fines incurred through their absence.
“This truancy ends now,” declared Abbott.
The House Democrats sharply retorted with a short yet assertive reply: “Come and take it.”
The Vote Landscape
In the 150-member Texas House, bills require at least two-thirds presence to pass. With Democrats holding 62 of those seats, and at least 51 voting members currently not in Texas, they really throw a wrench in processes, as pointed out by Josh Rush Nisenson, a spokesperson from the House Democratic Caucus.
Republican Speaker to the House, Dustin Burrows, affirmed that the chamber intends to convene by schedule on Monday.
“If the quorum isn’t met then, just as some Democratic colleagues have been vocal, every option sits on the table…,” he wrote on X.
Paxton, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat, tweeted that any Democrats facing retreat should be located, arrested, and escorted back to the Capitol instantly.
Consequences for Absentees
When Texas lawmakers skip assembly without valid justification, it results in a civil breach of legislative protocols. The Texas Supreme Court affirmed back in 2021 that House leaders could physically ensure the attendance of missing individuals, yet no Democrats were forcibly brought back to Texas after warrants were executed two years ago. With new rules established subsequently, Republicans enabled daily fines of $500 for lawmakers failing to show up.
The absence of quorum also hinders votes regarding flood relief and advanced warning structures following the severe floods last month, which tragically claimed at least 136 lives. Democrats had previously advocated for these vital decisions before tackling matters of redistricting and have criticized Republicans for their delay.
