Texas Democrats Flee State, Sparking Abbott’s Removal Threat Over Redistricting

Governor Vows Action as Lawmakers Stage Walkout to Block U.S. House Map Changes

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers in Texas have abandoned the state, aiming to disrupt the passage of new U.S. House maps favored by President Donald Trump. Governor Greg Abbott has responded with a stern warning, vowing to pursue their removal from office if they do not return.

Abbott Escalates Fight as Democrats Seek to Deny Quorum

The dramatic exodus, with lawmakers traveling to Illinois and New York, has thrown a wrench into the legislative process. A vote on the proposed congressional maps, which aim to create five additional Republican-leaning seats in Texas, was slated for Monday. However, the assembly cannot proceed without a quorum, a threshold the absent Democrats intend to prevent.

Abbott declared, “We’re not going to tolerate our democracy being stolen in a modern-day stagecoach heist by bunch of law-breaking cowboys.” He cited a 2021 legal opinion suggesting a legislator could forfeit their office by absenting themselves, and also alluded to potential felony charges for fundraising to cover fines.

Reacting to the governor’s threats, Texas Representative Jolanda Jones, currently in New York, stated, “He has no legal mechanism. Subpoenas from Texas don’t work in New York, so he can’t come and get us.” She characterized the governor’s stance as “smoke and mirrors.”

Interstate Support and ‘Fighting Fire with Fire’

Upon arrival in Chicago, the Texas Democrats were met by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has offered his support. “If Republicans are willing to rewrite rules to give themselves an advantage, then they’re leaving us with no choice: we must do the same. You have to fight fire with fire,” Pritzker declared, framing the move as a necessary response to partisan maneuvering.

This maneuver echoes a similar protest in 2021 when many of the same Texas House Democrats left the state for 38 days to oppose voting restrictions. While that walkout ultimately delayed, rather than prevented, the bill’s passage, the current standoff demonstrates a more aggressive tactic.

In Texas, the state’s Supreme Court has previously affirmed the authority to “physically compel the attendance” of absent members. However, in 2021, no lawmakers were forcibly returned. New rules implemented by Republicans now allow for daily fines of $500 for absenteeism.

Trump’s Influence and the Stakes of Redistricting

The core of the dispute lies in Trump‘s ambition to bolster Republican chances in the 2026 midterm elections by adding favorable congressional districts in Texas. Currently, Republicans hold 25 of the state’s 38 House seats. The proposed redrawing could significantly impact the balance of power in Congress, a strategy Trump has pursued in other states as well.

This confrontation highlights a broader national trend of escalating partisan battles over electoral maps. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, redistricting processes have become increasingly contentious, with 2021 seeing over 3,000 proposed congressional district changes across states, a number significantly higher than in previous cycles.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows indicated that the House would still convene. “If a quorum is not present then, to borrow the recent talking points from some of my Democrat colleagues, all options will be on the table,” he posted on X. In response to the mounting pressure, House Democrats issued a defiant four-word statement: “Come and take it.”