Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a stern warning Sunday night to Democratic state lawmakers who fled to Illinois in an attempt to block a redistricting vote that would add five new Republican congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Abbott called their actions a dereliction of duty, threatened arrest, and said any member who fails to return by Monday at 3 p.m. risks being removed from office.
“Real Texans don’t run from a fight,” Abbott declared.
“They have fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum necessary to meet and conduct business.”
Democrats Flee
Roughly 50 Democratic members of the 150-seat Texas House boarded planes to Chicago, denying the chamber the quorum required to vote on the proposed Trump-backed redistricting map.
Their departure marks a repeat of their 2021 strategy, when Democrats fled to Washington, D.C., to block election integrity legislation. This time, their move appears aimed at halting GOP gains in major urban districts like Dallas and Houston.
Abbott and Paxton: Return or Face Consequences
Abbott said that failure to fulfill legislative duties could be interpreted as abandonment of office, allowing him to declare seats vacant under Article III, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution and swiftly appoint replacements.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed the warning, vowing:
“Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.”
Legal Ramifications: Bribery Laws May Apply
Abbott also raised the stakes legally, noting that any Democrat soliciting or accepting funds to aid in evading fines or obstructing legislative duties may be in violation of Texas bribery laws.
“Any Democrat who ‘solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept’ such funds… may have violated bribery laws,” Abbott wrote.
Additionally, anyone who offers financial support to the fleeing lawmakers could also face charges.
Democrats Dig In: “Come and Take It”
The Texas House Democratic Caucus responded defiantly with a statement reading simply: “Come and take it.”
Democrats have labeled the redistricting plan a “racist mid-decade scheme” and claim it aims to dilute minority representation — even as some of their own incumbents, like Rep. Jasmine Crockett, would be drawn out of their own districts.
During a Chicago press conference, Democratic Rep. Gene Wu claimed they were “not here to play political games,” despite having fled their legislative responsibilities.
Illinois Governor Cheers on Runaways
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, praised the stunt as a “righteous act of courage”, claiming Republicans were trying to silence Black and Latino voters, despite no such evidence in the proposed map.
“Texas Democrats were left with no choice but to leave their home state,” Pritzker insisted.
