Texas governor issues threats towards Democrats absent due to Republican-supported redistricting bill
Texas Democratic Lawmakers Face Potential Legal Consequences for Leaving State to Block Redistricting
In a dramatic turn of events, Democratic lawmakers in Texas have left the state in an attempt to block the adoption of redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President Donald Trump. This move has led to a contentious standoff with Republican leaders, who are taking a hardline stance and threatening legal action against the absent lawmakers.
Governor Greg Abbott has announced that he will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office on Monday. The Governor's decision comes after the Democrats left the state, with some going to Illinois or New York, denying a quorum and preventing votes on the proposed maps.
The potential consequences for the Democratic lawmakers include removal from office via a quo warranto action claiming abandonment of seat, criminal charges related to solicitation or acceptance of funds to evade fines or legislative duties, use of extradition powers to bring lawmakers back to Texas for attendance and possible arrest, and court battles over constitutional interpretation of quorum break versus abandonment of office.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, has threatened to find, arrest, and bring back Democrats who do not return to the Capitol. Paxton's threats are based on an Attorney General opinion (No. KP-0382) permitting removal of legislators who intentionally break quorum as abandonment of office, enabling swift replacement of vacant seats.
However, some legal experts argue that leaving the state to break quorum does not legally constitute abandoning an office. Republican leaders, including Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton, have also enlisted the FBI to help locate and return the absent Democrats, highlighting the seriousness Republicans attribute to these quorum breaks during a contentious redistricting fight.
The center of the impasse is Trump's hope of adding five more GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas before the 2026 midterm elections. Currently, Republicans hold 25 of the state's 38 seats in the U.S. House.
The dispute over the congressional maps is part of a widening fight that has expanded to include Democratic governors who have considered redrawing their own state maps in retaliation. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has been in talks with Texas Democrats for weeks about offering support if they choose to leave the state. California Governor Gavin Newsom also hosted Texas Democrats in his own state to oppose the redistricting effort.
If a quorum is not present on Monday, House leaders may consider all options, according to Burrows. The House Democrats have issued a four-word statement: "Come and take it."
The Democrats accuse Governor Abbott of using "smoke and mirrors" and going beyond his legal authority. Texas Democratic Chair Kendall Scudder met privately with Pritzker in June to discuss the possibility of lawmakers departing for Illinois to deny a quorum and block the map.
The lack of a quorum in Texas will delay votes on disaster assistance and new warning systems in the wake of last month's catastrophic floods that killed at least 136 people. Legislative walkouts only delay passage of a bill, and Republicans were able to pass new voting restrictions despite a similar walkout in 2021. New rules have been pushed through in Texas that allow daily fines of US$500 for lawmakers who do not show up for work.
Despite the threats and legal maneuvers, it remains to be seen whether the Democratic lawmakers will return to Texas before Monday's session. The standoff between the two parties promises to be a significant event in the ongoing battle over redistricting and the balance of power in the U.S. House.
[1] https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/03/texas-democrats-leave-state-block-redistricting/ [2] https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/03/politics/texas-democrats-leave-state-redistricting/index.html [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/us/politics/texas-democrats-leave-state-redistricting.html [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/03/texas-democrats-leave-state-block-redistricting/ [5] https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/texas-politics-insider/article/Texas-Supreme-Court-to-consider-whether-to-16333721.php
- The legal battle over the Democratic lawmakers' absence in Texas extends to questions of opinion, as some argue that leaving the state does not legally constitute abandoning an office, while others believe it does.
- In the midst of discussions around redistricting, politics, and policy-and-legislation, the tension escalates as the FBI is enlisted to help locate and return the absent Democrats, highlighting the seriousness of the ongoing dispute.
- As Democrats face potential legal consequences for their actions in evading legislative duties, news outlets report on the ongoing hostility between the parties, including threats of arrest and quo warranto actions. Meanwhile, crime-and-justice matters, such as the lack of a quorum in Texas, delay votes on disaster assistance and new warning systems in the wake of last month's catastrophic floods.
