Texas AG Ken Paxton Comments on Democrats Fleeing the State

In a recent interview, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed his hope that Democrats who haven’t returned to Texas could face jail time. “I don’t know, we’ll do that — we’re definitely waiting to see if they’ll show up,” he mentioned while discussing the situation on a morning news program.

He noted that Speaker Dustin Burrows set a deadline for the Democrats to be present, saying, “They will show up today. We are all happy. We can get the business done.” However, he warned that if they don’t return, state leaders might have to take legal action or, more dramatically, consider jail time for the absent Democrats.

The Texas Democrats departed the state the previous Sunday to hinder Republican efforts to enact a new legislative map favoring the GOP. This proposed map presents the party with five potential opportunities in the upcoming elections.

Despite the committees in both the Texas House and Senate advancing this redistricting plan, progress has been halted due to the Democrats’ absence. The timeline for their return remains uncertain, with Governor Greg Abbott indicating that special sessions will continue until they are back.

As House Republicans prepared to reconvene later that day, GOP leaders warned of consequences should the Democrats fail to appear. Paxton dismissed worries about how handcuffing opposing party members might affect public perception, stating, “No, in Texas, I don’t know what it’s like in other states, but I know Texas.”

He further clarified that he believes this situation reflects poorly on the Democrats in the eyes of many Texans, stressing the importance of participation in the legislative process. “I think the fact that they did it, at least in most minds in Texas, is already on a negative standpoint for most people,” he concluded.