After issuing an ultimatum to state lawmakers to return home or face expulsion or arrest, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made good on his word and ordered state authorities to arrest dozens of House Democrats who fled to Illinois and New York rather than stay for a vote on redrawing the state’s congressional map.
“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott said in a statement late Monday.
“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.”
Accoring to The New York Post, shortly before Abbott’s announcement, the Texas House of Representatives voted 85-6 to approve a motion to call for the Democrats to come back.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows subsequently directed the chamber’s sergeant at arms “to send for all absentees … under warrant of arrest, if necessary.”
“To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott ordered.
“This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.”
A total of 57 absent Texas Democrats fled the state over the weekend, with many going to Illinois, where dozens joined Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker Sunday night at DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters.
“They are attempting to cheat,” Pritzker said of the Republican-led efforts to redraw Texas’ House map.
About half a dozen more joined New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Albany, NY yesterday.
“If that’s what’s called for, that’s what’s called for,” Hochul said of the Texas Democrats abandoning Austin before calling Abbott “un-American” and accusing him of “rigging” the next congressional election for the GOP.
“To subvert the will of the people, they’re hellbent on rigging the system. Rigging the system is un-American. Congressional districts are never drawn mid-decade,” she argued.
The redrawn maps in Texas have become a national issue as the changes could net Republicans as many as five additional seats in the US House of Representatives – potentially allowing the GOP to expand its narrow majority in the 2026 midterms.
This is a developing story. Check back for further updates.