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Texas Governor’s Warning to House Democrats

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a warning to House Democrats, stating that if they fail to attend Congress by 3 PM on Monday, their offices will be confiscated. He mentioned plans to take over vacant seats, a move he believes is authorized by the Texas Constitution.

“This truancy is over now,” Gov. Abbott said in a statement on Sunday night. “Abandoned Democrats must return to Texas and be present when the House reconvenes at 3 PM on August 4, 2025.” He referred to the Texas Attorney General’s Opinion No. KP-0382 as the basis for his actions against the absent Democrats.

Earlier that day, House Democrats had left the state for Illinois to block legislative attempts regarding the Texas Senate District, as reported by Breitbart News. Democrat Caucus Chairman Jean Wu criticized the governor, alleging that he used unfair maps to undermine the voices of Black and Latino Texans, claiming all this was part of corrupt political dealings. “We will not conspire with those who have fought hard for representation,” she insisted, referring to the community’s long struggle against perceived electoral injustices.

Regarding questions on whether the Democrats could lose their offices due to their absence, Abbott called it a “court fact questioning.” He explained that a district court could decide to confiscate the offices of lawmakers absent from their posts, thus creating vacancies.

“This will allow us to quickly fill the vacancy according to Article 13 of the Texas Constitution,” Abbott remarked.

He also warned that the Democrats’ actions might lead to felony charges related to their absences. Abbott noted that some Democrats were seeking funds to evade fines tied to House rules, cautioning that accepting such money could be a violation of the Bribery Act. He added that anyone providing these funds might also face legal repercussions.