Texas Governor Greg Abbott Orders Arrest of Democratic Lawmakers.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the arrest of Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas to block a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan aimed at increasing the GOP’s representation in the U.S. House.

Dozens of Democrats left the state, denying the Texas House a quorum needed to vote on legislation. On Monday, Aug. 4, House members in Austin voted 85-6 to authorize the arrest of the absent lawmakers, according to the Texas Tribune. House Speaker Dustin Burrows pledged to issue civil arrest warrants for the Democrats who fled, although those warrants would only apply within Texas borders. Many of the lawmakers have already traveled to states like Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts.

“This House will not sit quietly while you obstruct the work of the people,” Burrows said, as reported by CBS Austin. “The people of Texas are watching and so is the nation.”

Following the vote, Abbott, 67, directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest the absent lawmakers.

“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott said in a statement. “By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.”

Abbott added that the Department of Public Safety had been ordered to “locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans,” stating that the order will remain in place until all absent Democrats are returned to the Capitol.

However, some Democrats dismissed the move as political theater. “He has no legal mechanism,” Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones, who is currently in New York, told the Associated Press. “Subpoenas from Texas don’t work in New York… He’s putting up smoke and mirrors.”

Abbott also sent a letter to the absent lawmakers on Sunday, Aug. 3, threatening to invoke a legal opinion from the Texas attorney general that could potentially remove the missing Democrats from the Texas House. He also suggested they could face felony charges for raising funds to cover the $500 daily fine imposed for each day they remain out of Austin.

The Democratic caucus responded defiantly: “Come and take it.”

The Texas House consists of 150 members, with 100 required for a quorum. With 62 Democrats, the absence of at least 51 members would prevent any legislative action during the ongoing special session. That session, which has just over two weeks remaining, was convened by Abbott following severe flooding in the Hill Country. The governor’s agenda also includes redrawing congressional maps and passing legislation requiring transgender individuals to use bathrooms in public buildings that correspond with their birth sex.

Democrats have not said how long they intend to stay away. State Rep. Gene Wu, who traveled to Illinois and leads the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said they are prepared to “do whatever it takes,” although he acknowledged that the plan beyond that is still uncertain.

This isn’t the first time Texas Democrats have fled the state in protest. In 2021, they took similar action to oppose new voting restrictions. At that time, the Texas Supreme Court allowed House leaders to “physically compel” lawmakers to return, though none were forcibly brought back. They eventually returned after 38 days, and the bill passed.

The Texas House adjourned after the arrest warrants were approved and is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday.