Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking a strong stance against over 50 Democratic lawmakers who recently fled the state to avoid voting on a new Republican-backed congressional map. In a recent interview with NBC News, Abbott expressed his determination to hold these "runaway Democrats" accountable, stating that state officials are preparing to arrest them if they do not return.
The situation escalated when the Democratic representatives left Texas for Illinois earlier this week, aiming to block the vote on the congressional map that could significantly boost Republican representation in the state. Abbott made it clear that he plans to continue calling special sessions to push this agenda, regardless of how long the Democrats stay away. He suggested that they might not return until 2027 or 2028, but he is prepared to keep the pressure on.
Abbott argues that the need for a new congressional map is justified, claiming that changes in both law and demographics since the last map was drawn in 2021 warrant a revision. He believes many Republican voters are currently placed in districts that do not reflect their political preferences. The proposed map could give Republicans about 80% of Texas’s congressional districts, which would be a significant advantage ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The push for this new map has sparked reactions from Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who warned that his state might retaliate with redistricting efforts of its own if Texas moves forward with its plan. However, the Texas Republicans cannot finalize the map until enough Democrats return to the legislature to meet the quorum requirement.
In a related development, U.S. Senator John Cornyn from Texas stated that the FBI is ready to assist in locating the absent lawmakers. This involvement has raised concerns among Democrats, who accuse Republicans of using federal resources to target political opponents. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the move, questioning why the FBI would focus on this issue instead of more pressing threats.
Additionally, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into a political group led by Democrat Beto O’Rourke. This group is accused of financially supporting the fleeing lawmakers, potentially violating laws concerning bribery and campaign finance.
As tensions rise, the situation in Texas highlights the deep political divides in the state and raises questions about the lengths to which both parties will go to secure their interests.
