Texas Governor Greg Abbott has warned that he will initiate steps to remove Democratic lawmakers from office beginning Monday if they do not return to the state, amid a growing political standoff over proposed congressional redistricting maps backed by former President Donald Trump.
The warning follows the departure of over 50 Democratic state legislators who left Texas for states including Illinois and New York in a bid to deny quorum and block a vote on the GOP-drafted maps. The redistricting plan aims to add five Republican-leaning congressional seats in Texas, strengthening the party’s slim majority in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Speaking on Sunday, Abbott said he would rely on a 2021 advisory opinion by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton that suggests legislators may forfeit their seats by refusing to perform their duties. He also alleged that lawmakers may have committed legal violations by fundraising to cover potential fines.
“This truancy ends now,” said the governor.
In response, Texas Democrats issued a brief statement: “Come and take it.”
The proposed vote, scheduled for Monday in the Texas House of Representatives, cannot proceed without a quorum—two-thirds of the 150-member chamber. Democrats currently hold 62 seats, and more than 50 are believed to have left the state, according to the Democratic Caucus.
Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows stated that the House would convene as scheduled. “If a quorum is not present then... all options will be on the table,” he wrote on X.
The ongoing impasse is delaying votes on other critical issues, including flood relief and early warning systems following last month’s devastating floods in Texas, which claimed at least 136 lives. Democrats have criticized the Republican leadership for prioritizing redistricting over disaster response.
In a show of support, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker hosted several Texas Democrats in Chicago and has reportedly been in discussions with them for weeks. California Governor Gavin Newsom has offered similar backing.
“This is not just about Texas. It’s about safeguarding democratic rights across the United States,” said Pritzker.
Analysts say the dispute could have long-term implications, with Trump allies looking to replicate similar redistricting strategies in other states to secure a Republican advantage in the 2026 elections.
Source: Agency