Texas Democrats fled to blue states this week, dodging their duty to vote on redistricting.
The Texas House, fed up with absentee Democrat lawmakers, voted Monday to issue arrest warrants for over 50 members who skipped a critical session on redrawing congressional maps, as the Daily Caller reports. These lawmakers broke quorum by jetting off to states like Illinois and New York, leaving the Capitol in a lurch. Their absence stalls a Republican-led effort to reshape Texas’s electoral landscape.
When the gavel fell at 3 p.m., the missing Democrats were nowhere to be found. House Speaker Dustin Burrows didn’t hesitate, announcing he would sign civil warrants to drag them back. This bold move underscores the GOP’s resolve to keep legislative gears turning.
“The sergeant-at-arms… [is] directed to send for all absentees… under warrant of arrest if necessary,” Burrows declared. His words signal a no-nonsense approach, but the warrants’ reach stops at the Texas border, rendering them more symbolic than shackling. Still, it’s a sharp jab at Democrats’ runaway tactics.
The warrants empower the sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to round up the absent lawmakers and haul them to Austin. No criminal or civil charges await them, per the Texas Tribune, but the optics of fleeing their posts sting worse. It’s a political stunt that’s backfiring spectacularly.
Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton didn’t mince words, slamming the Democrats’ exodus. “Instead of showing up to work… House Democrat members have fled the state in a cowardly desertion,” Paxton said. His fiery rhetoric exposes the left’s penchant for theatrics over governance.
“These jet-setting runaways abandoned Texas… for a publicity stunt,” Paxton continued. His call for accountability resonates with Texans tired of progressive grandstanding. If Democrats think they’re above the law, Paxton’s ready to prove them wrong.
Gov. Greg Abbott, equally incensed, issued an order for the lawmakers’ arrests. “Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott stated. His frustration highlights a broader conservative grievance: elected officials shirking responsibility for political points.
“By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation,” Abbott added. His order tasks the Texas Department of Public Safety with tracking down and returning the AWOL lawmakers. Flood victims and property tax relief hang in the balance, making this dodge particularly galling.
“I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return… any member who has abandoned their duty,” Abbott emphasized. His directive keeps pressure on Democrats to face the music. Texans deserve representatives who show up, not ones who scamper to safe havens.
The Texas House needs 100 representatives and 21 senators for a quorum to conduct business. Without these numbers, legislative progress grinds to a halt. Democrats’ absence isn’t just a snub; it’s a calculated move to obstruct Republican priorities.
These lawmakers’ flight to blue states like Illinois and New York reeks of desperation. They’re betting on sanctuary from GOP-led accountability, but Texans aren’t buying it. Voters sent them to Austin to work, not to stage a cross-country walkout.
The civil warrants, while limited to Texas, send a clear message: dereliction of duty won’t be tolerated. Republicans are drawing a line in the sand, demanding lawmakers fulfill their oaths. It’s a refreshing stand against the left’s obsession with performative resistance.
Democrats’ absence isn’t just about redistricting; it’s a broader rejection of their constituents’ will. By fleeing, they’ve handed Republicans a narrative gift: progressives prioritize politics over people. Texans won’t soon forget this betrayal.
The saga continues as the Texas House holds firm, warrants in hand. If Democrats think they can outrun their responsibilities, they’re in for a rude awakening. The Lone Star State demands better, and Republicans are stepping up to ensure it.
