With the 4 PM deadline behind him, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows stated today that he is prepared to sign an arrest warrant for the Democrats who have not shown up. This move comes after the absent Democrats returned to Texas on Monday, thus failing to approve the quorum needed to block the GOP’s attempt to redraw the state Capitol map.
Prior to the Texas quorum request, Illinois Democrats released a statement claiming that “the bold, unified response” from Texas House members led to the denial of the quorum. Some Texas Democrats attended an event in Illinois on Monday, while similar gatherings occurred in Albany, Boston, and Chicago. Critics allege these events were highly gerrymandered, aimed at countering Texas’s constituency changes.
“Let’s start by praising those who showed up,” a Texas senator remarked following the denial of the quorum. Meanwhile, Burrows criticized the Democrats who didn’t attend and expressed his readiness to issue civil arrest warrants if they are found violating laws.
Governor Abbott labeled the protests by Democrats as “outrageous,” stemming from the GOP-led efforts to change constituency lines. On Monday, he threatened to remove Democrats who left the state, preventing progress on redistricting. A Senate bill introduced by a Texas GOP senator also remains stuck due to the absence of these lawmakers.
Many Democrats in the Texas House accused Abbott of potentially committing a felony and fled the state on Sunday to hinder a vote that would establish a quorum. The quorum is essential for legislative activities to proceed. This exodus happened just as Republicans were about to pass laws on new legislative districts, which they argue are tilted in favor of Democrats and must be revised.
In a letter sent to lawmakers on Sunday, Abbott warned that if they did not return by 4 PM when the House reconvenes, he would consider legal actions to remove the absent Democrats.
“I am prepared to accept any necessary moves to call the House back and force absent members to return,” Burrows stated on Monday. He added that if such a motion succeeds, he would soon sign civil arrest warrants for those claiming they are not present. “As the speaker, I will work to establish a quorum and push this body forward by any means at my disposal,” he asserted.
Abbott claimed that the fleeing lawmakers may face felony charges for abandoning their duties. He expressed concern that some absent Democrats were looking for money to avoid penalties outlined in House rules. Furthermore, Abbott emphasized that if lawmakers receive financial incentives to act or refrain from acting, it would be considered bribery.
In response, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the Texas governor’s actions as merely bluster, asserting that there is “no basis” for Abbott’s claims against lawmakers. He suggested that Abbott’s stance represents a significant neglect of responsibilities.
As the conflict over Texas’s redistricting intensifies, Democrats around the nation are threatening to respond with similar actions in states they control, like New York and California. Jeffries indicated that “all options” should be considered in this ongoing battle. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom expressed the need to “fight fire with fire” regarding redistricting efforts, while New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul stated she aims to explore “all options” for redrawing the state’s district map as swiftly as possible.
Typically, congressional maps are redrawn every ten years after the census; however, Texas appears poised to reshape its maps without new census data or a court directive. Abbott contends that the current GOP efforts in Texas are entirely legal despite the controversies surrounding them.
The proposed Texas map, which has backing from former President Donald Trump, could potentially help Republicans gain five additional seats in the U.S. House, as argued by Trump last month. Meanwhile, the Justice Department under Trump had previously raised concerns that some congressional districts in Texas constituted racial gerrymandering, violating constitutional rights.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
