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Following the 4 p.m. CT deadline, Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows made an announcement this afternoon stating his intention to sign arrest warrants against any Democrat lawmakers who were absent, if authorized by a vote of the chamber. Subsequently, the House approved the warrants and Governor Greg Abbott promptly instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest the missing Texas House Democrats.
Despite efforts, the Democratic lawmakers did not return to Texas in time on Monday to establish a quorum in order to address GOP attempts to redraw the state’s congressional maps.
The Illinois State Democratic Party released a statement just before the quorum in Texas was requested, indicating that “Texas House Democrats have denied a quorum in a bold and unified response.” Events to oppose Texas’ redistricting efforts were also held in Albany, Boston, and Chicago, as mentioned in the press release.
“I want to commend the members who did show up,” stated Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows after the quorum was denied. Burrows criticized the absent Democrats and expressed his willingness to sign civil arrest warrants if deemed necessary due to a violation of the law.
The Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“According to the House rules, I am prepared to recognize a motion to place a call on the House, and any other necessary motions, to compel the return of absent members,” stated Burrows on Monday afternoon.
“If such a motion is successful, I will immediately sign the warrants for the civil arrest of the members who have stated they will not be present,” he continued. “As speaker, I will utilize all available means to establish a quorum and move this body forward.”
Earlier on Monday, Governor Greg Abbott threatened to expel and potentially prosecute Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas in an attempt to prevent Republicans from proceeding with the redrawing of the state’s congressional districts. GOP Texas State Senator also filed Senate Bill 62 on Monday to dismiss the absent lawmakers for their failure to attend.
Most Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives, accused by Abbott of potential felonies, left the state on Sunday to prevent the House from achieving a quorum. Without a quorum, legislative proceedings cannot move forward. The lawmakers left as Republicans sought to pass legislation to establish new congressional districts in the state, arguing that the current districts favor Democrats and need adjustment.
Abbott warned lawmakers in a letter sent on Sunday that if they do not return by the 4 p.m. ET reconvening time, he will “invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the absent Democrats from membership in the Texas House.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suggested that those who have fled the state to stall Republicans’ agenda could potentially face felony charges. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“In addition to abandoning their offices, these legislators may also have committed felonies,” added Abbott in his letter. “Many absentee Democrats are soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules.”
Abbott also stated earlier on Monday that it would be considered bribery “if any lawmaker took money to perform or to refuse to perform an act in the legislature.”
Subsequently, following the approval of the arrest warrants for the absent Democrats by GOP lawmakers, Abbott instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest the missing Texas House Democrats.
“Speaker Dustin Burrows just issued a call of the Texas House and issued warrants to compel members to return to the chamber. To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans,” Abbott announced in a press release on Monday. “This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol.”
In response to Abbott’s threats, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described the governor’s actions as “all hat, no cattle,” noting that there was “no basis to charge” the lawmakers. Jeffries comments came before the Texas state legislature’s approval of the arrest warrants.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 6, 2025. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Democrats across the country have responded to GOP redistricting efforts in Texas by threatening to do the same in Democratic-controlled states like New York and California.
Last week, Jeffries stated during a press conference that “all options should be on the table” in light of the Texas redistricting battle.
Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California has expressed the need to “fight fire with fire” in response to the GOP’s mid-decade redistricting efforts.
Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul of New York declared on Monday that “the gloves are off,” stating her intention to explore “every option” to redraw her state’s congressional maps “as soon as possible.”
Democratic Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California vow to fight back against GOP redistricting efforts. (Getty Images)
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Congressional maps are typically redrawn once every 10 years following the U.S. Census, but Texas is currently attempting to redraw their maps mid-decade without new census data or a court order. Despite this, Abbott maintains that “there’s nothing illegal” about the GOP’s actions in Texas.
The new maps in Texas, supported by President Donald Trump, could potentially benefit Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives by gaining five seats, as stated by the president last month. Trump’s Department of Justice previously sent Abbott a letter in early July, alleging that some congressional districts in Texas could be considered racially gerrymandered and in violation of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
