Abbott vows swift action as Texas Democrats flee to block congressional map aimed at expanding GOP edge
AUSTIN, Texas (BN24) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday threatened to seek the removal of dozens of Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent a vote on Republican-drawn U.S. House maps that President Donald Trump is backing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The warning from Abbott comes after more than 50 Democratic members of the Texas House fled to states like Illinois and New York in a dramatic bid to deny the GOP-controlled chamber a quorum. The walkout halts a scheduled Monday vote on a redistricting plan that would add five Republican-leaning congressional seats in Texas, potentially solidifying the GOP’s fragile majority in the U.S. House.
Abbott, a Republican, accused the lawmakers of abandoning their duties and warned that he would pursue their removal from office if they do not return by the time the House reconvenes Monday afternoon. He cited a 2021 non-binding legal opinion by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton suggesting courts might rule such lawmakers have forfeited their positions. The governor also hinted that Democrats could face felony charges for fundraising efforts tied to paying fines associated with their absence.
“This truancy ends now,” Abbott said Sunday.
In a terse response, Texas House Democrats issued a defiant statement: “Come and take it.”
The unfolding political standoff centers on congressional maps drawn to favor Republicans in a state already dominated by the GOP. Texas currently has 25 Republican-held seats among its 38 total, and the proposed changes could further entrench GOP control by targeting areas where Democrats have made gains in recent years.
President Trump, looking to avoid the setbacks he suffered during his first term when Democrats seized control of the House in 2018, has personally pushed for new district lines that could increase Republican influence. His political advisers are also reportedly considering redistricting initiatives in other GOP-led states.
The Democrats’ exodus echoes a similar maneuver in 2021, when they fled to Washington to oppose a voting restrictions bill. They stayed away for more than five weeks but eventually returned, and Republicans passed the legislation without changes.
This time, Abbott appears less willing to wait.
Under Texas House rules, a quorum requires at least two-thirds of the 150-member chamber to be present. Democrats hold 62 seats, and at least 51 members have left the state, according to House Democratic Caucus spokesperson Josh Rush Nisenson.
Despite the exodus, Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows said the chamber would still convene Monday as scheduled. He warned that if a quorum isn’t met, Republicans would consider “all options,” echoing language used by Democrats in the past.
Paxton, who is now running for U.S. Senate, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Democrats should be “found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.”
In 2021, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the House’s authority to compel absent members to return, but no lawmakers were physically forced back. Since then, the Legislature has approved a rule allowing daily fines of $500 for lawmakers who fail to appear, a penalty some Democrats have sought to cover through fundraising.
The standoff has broader implications, delaying action on other legislative priorities, including emergency flood relief and disaster warning systems following last month’s devastating floods that left at least 136 people dead. Democrats had urged votes on those measures before turning to redistricting, accusing Republicans of misplaced priorities.
Democratic lawmakers arriving in Chicago on Sunday were welcomed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who has been quietly coordinating with Texas Democrats in recent weeks. Pritzker, widely viewed as a possible 2028 presidential contender, said he began contingency planning in June with Texas Democratic Chair Kendall Scudder. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has also voiced support, holding similar events to rally opposition to the redistricting efforts.
“This is not just rigging the system in Texas, it’s about rigging the system against the rights of all Americans for years to come,” Pritzker said.
Rep. Gene Wu, leader of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, declined to say how long the lawmakers intend to remain out of state, but emphasized their commitment to resisting the redistricting plan.
“We will do whatever it takes,” Wu said.
As tensions rise, both parties appear locked in a standoff that could shape the makeup of Congress for years. The political clash has spilled beyond Texas borders, drawing national attention to redistricting battles that are poised to intensify in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.
