Texas House Democrats react to Abbott’s threat of removal after departure

Will Texas Be as “Gerrymandered” as California?

Chuck Devoir, who is Texas’s Vice President of Public Policy, weighs in on whether Texas might end up as “gerrymandered” as California.

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has issued a threat, saying he would arrest and expel House Democrats who left the state to avoid voting. This ultimatum stands unless they return by Monday afternoon.

Dozens of Texas Democratic representatives made their way to Chicago on Sunday night, effectively halting the voting process. In response to Abbott’s remarks, the Texas House Democrat Caucus simply stated, “Come and take it.”

The proposed changes to the district maps have been labeled a “racist medieval constituency change scheme,” potentially granting five additional Republican seats in next year’s mid-term elections.

Abbott slammed the Democrats for their sudden departure, urging them to come back, stating that “there are actual Texans not to run away from the fight.”

He pointed out that elected representatives have a duty to participate in votes regarding urgent laws impacting all Texans. As Abbott put it, doing the job is “not an option.” For business to proceed, at least 100 out of 150 Texas House members need to be present, yet around 50 Democrats have absconded.

The Texas House is set to reconvene at 3 PM on Monday, as Abbott has indicated through Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that those “abandoned Democrats” must return by that time.

Paxton has already remarked that lawmakers should be located and “arrested” wherever they may be.

Abbott has also suggested that he would create a vacant seat to which he could swiftly appoint someone, according to Article 13 of the Texas Constitution. This would allow for lawmakers to be removed from office, should they continue to evade their responsibilities.

Not only is removal a possibility, but Abbott has further threatened to “sell funds to avoid fines” resulting from skipping votes. He has warned that any member who solicits or accepts funds to bypass legislative duties could potentially be violating the Bribery Act.

He clearly stated that he would utilize his full extradition powers to demand the return of lawmakers who might find themselves out of state.

The proposed district maps appear to favor traditionally blue cities like Dallas and Houston, which may marginalize Democrats, including Jasmine Crockett from her own district.

At a press conference in Chicago on Sunday, House Democrat Caucus Speaker Jean Wu insisted that lawmakers are “not here to play a political game. We are here to demand an end to this corrupt process.”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker voiced his support for the Texas Democrats, calling their actions courageous, while Republicans have accused them of trying to silence “millions of voices, particularly black and Latino voters.” Pritzker emphasized that Texas Democrats were left with no choice but to leave to block votes and protect their constituents.