Texas Governor Comments on Democratic Walkout

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) indicated that for their strategy to succeed, the Democrats who left the state to resist the new Republican-friendly district maps would need to stay away for an extended period.

“I’ll tell you this too, Democrats will act like they won’t come back as long as this is the problem,” Abbott stated in an interview with NBC News on Thursday. He mentioned that this could mean they won’t return until 2027 or 2028, as he plans to call for special sessions repeatedly, focusing on the same agenda items.

Abbott, along with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), has called for the arrest of those Texas Democrats who left the state to disrupt the quorum necessary for Republicans to conduct business during these special sessions.

During the interview, the governor noted that the FBI and the Texas Public Safety Agency were “tracking” these Democrats.

When NBC News inquired about a proper role for the FBI in this scenario, Abbott responded affirmatively, stating they would employ “all the tools we can do” to hold accountable those who have left the state.

Experts consulted by The Hill this week expressed skepticism about the FBI’s jurisdiction in this matter, given the unclear circumstances surrounding the Democrats’ departure.

Furthermore, it’s uncertain how long these Democrats will remain out of state. The Texas State Capitol and the Senate Committee have approved the same house map, which seeks to create five advantageous opportunities for Republicans, something President Trump noted as the GOP being “given rights” for the upcoming year.

While this could facilitate floor votes in both the Senate and House, progress has stalled due to the Democrats’ exodus. With the Republican majority firmly in place at the Capitol and in the governor’s mansion, the map is likely to pass eventually.

Nevertheless, the ongoing dispute has prompted some Democratic-led states to consider their options for medium-term redistricting strategies.