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
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