New York Gov. Hochul says Texas Democrats're leaving Albany, going into hiding elsewhere in the state
AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — The Republican-led Texas House of Representatives voted this afternoon to issue Civil Arrest Warrants for Democrat legislators who did not show up to work for a scheduled 3:00pm House Legislative Session Monday, and voted 85-6 to authorize the House Sergeant-at-Arms & State Law Enforcement Officials to track down and arrest the absent Democrats. And as the partisan standoff escalated, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the arrest of Democrat State Legislators who’ve fled the state in an attempt to stop Republican plans to redraw Congressional Districts during a 30 day Special Session.
“Real Texans do not run from a fight. But that’s exactly what most Texas House Democrats just did," said Gov. Abbott, warning of the numerous potential legal consequences for the Democrats.Most of the Democrats – save for a handful or less – have fled to Chicago, Boston, or Albany, New York.
Following the House vote, Gov. Abbott said he ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to “locate, arrest and return to the House chamber any member who abandoned their duty to Texans” – and noted that the order would remain in place until all missing Democrats are brought to the Texas Capitol in Austin.
The governor also said he would exercise a state law to remove the fleeing Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives if they had not returned by 3 p.m. Monday – and further threatened to charge them with felonies and fines. Abbott said a governor has legal authority to remove absent lawmakers from their elected positions, because their purposeful absence – intended to interrupt the Legislature – amounted to abandonment of their elected positions.
While the Democrats can prevent the legislature’s redistricting effort by breaking quorum, the effort will require the entire delegation to stay out of the state until at least November, which political scientists say is unlikely, given historical precedent.
"If we're going to follow our current primary schedule, we do need to have these districts approved by the Legislature before the opening of filing [for the 2026 midterms] in November," explained Mark P. Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.
The challenge for Democrats, is that Gov. Greg Abbott can call unlimited “Special Sessions,” which last up to 30 days each.
If Democrats break quorum during the current Special Session – which runs through Tues., August 19th – Abbott could immediately call another session and continue doing so indefinitely.
The Texas House Democratic Caucus, responding to Mr. Abbott’s threat of removal, said in a statement: “Come and take it.”Democrats say they are refusing to show up in order to leave the Texas House without a quorum, the minimum number of lawmakers that must be present to conduct legislative business.
In the Texas House, two-thirds of the chamber's 150 members must be present to constitute a quorum
“They’ve shirked their responsibilities under the direction and pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists, who don’t know the first thing about what is right for Texas,” said Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican.
Texas Democrats said they plan to remain in Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts (and possible other blue states) for the next two weeks to stop the Legislature from redrawing congressional district lines to make it easier for Republican candidates to win five additional seats in Congress.
The governor of Illinois, Democrat hotel billionaire J.B. Pritzker, says he’ll shield the fleeing Democrats while they are in his state.
Texas Democrats said they plan to remain in Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts (and possible other blue states) for the next two weeks to stop the Legislature from redrawing congressional district lines to make it easier for Republican candidates to win five additional seats in Congress.
The governor of Illinois, Democrat hotel billionaire J.B. Pritzker, says he’ll shield the fleeing Democrats while they are in his state.
“We are going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them,” Mr. Pritzker said.
“We know that they are doing the right thing. We know they are following the law. It’s [Texas Attorney General] Ken Paxton who doesn’t follow the law. It’s the leaders of Texas who are attempting not to follow the law. They are the ones that need to be held accountable,” said the governor of Illinois.
Other Texas Democrats are hiding in the state of New York, where a handful appeared at a Monday morning press conference with Gov. Kathy Hochul – who said the Texas Democrats were leaving Albany and going into hiding elsewhere in the state.
Hochul encouraged the runaway lawmakers “not to disclose where they are headed next, for obvious reasons.”LOCAL ALBANY, NEW YORK COVERAGE: 'We are at war.' Hochul backs Texas lawmakers fighting GOP
Republicans currently have a 219-212 majority, with four (4) vacancies.“This is war. This will have implications, not just in Texas, but for our entire nation and its future. We are at war,” said GoverHochul.
The 50-plus Texas Democrats who fled the Lone Star State over the weekend indicated they’ll stay away until the Legislature’s special session ends in two weeks – meaning they are unlikely to return by the deadline set by Gov. Abbott.
The governor said Democrats who left the state are “soliciting funds” to evade fines the Texas House may impose on them, which he said could result in bribery charges because the funds were to help them skip legislative votes.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the lawmakers should “be swiftly arrested, punished and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.”
