Texas Democrats explain quorum breaking, Republicans demand arrests to force Trump-ordered redistricting vote
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Several Texas lawmakers left the state Sunday to block a Monday vote on redrawn congressional maps designed to add five Republican seats in the US House of Representatives.
At least 51 Democratic state representatives chose to leave Texas on Sunday. Some of those lawmakers said they've gone to New York, and others went to Illinois. The Governors of those states have stated their support for the action.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder issued a statement Sunday in support of the quorum breakers. In it, he said that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was "holding disaster flood relief hostage to steal five congressional seats" under orders from President Donald Trump.
In June, Trump met with several Texas Republicans. He has also publicly said that he wants Texas to create five new Republican seats.
“Greg Abbott just told flood survivors across Texas that their suffering comes second to Donald Trump’s thirst for power ... That’s not governing, that’s gutless," Scudder said. "Your right to representation in your government is under attack, and Texas Democrats will protect your rights through any means necessary."
The action puts the legislative chamber at a standstill, as the House's rules require the presence of two-thirds of its 150 members -- at least 100 representatives. Since the absences aren't excused, each legislator who has left Texas is subject to a fine of $500 per day.
The Texas Republican Party also issued a statement from its chair, Abraham George. He called the Democratic lawmakers "cowards" while also calling for them to be "hunted down" and arrested.
"While Republicans are fighting for fair and lawful redistricting that reflects the will of the people, Democrats are abandoning their sworn duty, and trying to silence your voice," he wrote. "Those Texas House Democrats who refuse to do their sworn duty and flee to deny a quorum are not above the law ... We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law."
Both parties are using the situation to fundraise.
Only 12 days remain in the special session.
Texas Democrats say why they're leaving
In a statement, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu said that the caucus's decision was made "with absolute moral clarity." He also criticized Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to include redistricting along with recent flooding in the called session's topics.
"Governor Abbott has turned the victims of a historic tragedy into political hostages in his submission to Donald Trump," Wu said in a statement. "He is using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, all to execute a corrupt political deal. Apathy is complicity, and we will not be complicit in the silencing of hard-working communities who have spent decades fighting for the power that Trump wants to steal.”
Other Texas Democrats made statements Sunday about their decision to break quorum. Reps. Venton Jones, Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, Ron Reynolds, Gina Hinojosa, Lulu Flores and Sheryl Cole also made statements on social media Sunday.
Rep. Ann Johnson
“The Governor doesn’t need us here to help flood survivors — he needs us here to pass Donald Trump’s political agenda,” Johnson said. “We’ve reached a line I won’t cross. Abbott’s map is a direct assault on our constitution. If we’re not willing to put ourselves in the way of that, we shouldn’t be here.”
Rep. James Talarico
"This is the rot at the core of our broken political system," Talarico said. "We normally redistrict at the beginning of the decade after a new census. But Trump and Texas Republicans are trying to redraw these maps in the middle of the decade to rig the 2026 midterms."
It’s like two football teams coming out of the locker room at halftime, and the team that’s ahead changes the rules of the game to make sure they win. It’s cheating. Plain and simple.
Rep. James Talarico
"We may not be at the Capitol, but we’re doing our jobs. We may not be in Texas, but we’re fighting for our constituents," his statement continues, "We’re not just fighting for Democrats — we’re fighting for Independents and Republicans too. Because in a democracy, voters are supposed to choose their politicians, not the other way around."
Rep. John Bucy III
"This session should be about helping Texans recover — not helping Donald Trump gain power,” Bucy said. “If Governor Abbott is going to try to quietly redraw maps while families are still cleaning out flooded homes, we’re going to make it hurt.”
Rep Trey Martinez
"Today, I walked out of the Texas Capitol alongside my Democratic peers in protest of the MAGA maps House Republicans are rushing to pass. Our Democracy is being stolen from us, and I am sounding the alarm—it’s time for our nation to wake up!
It’s a stand I’m extremely familiar with—after breaking quorum in 2003 and leading the fight in 2021, I’m ready to dig my heels in and make sure the MAGA extremists know what they’re up against. No one should underestimate what the Democrats will do to preserve voting rights and democracy."
Republicans call for the arrest of lawmakers
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on X Sunday that the quorum breakers should be arrested.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows said on X that "all options were on the table" should the House not make quorum at 3:00 p.m. Monday.
The Legislature rules require the House sergeant-at-arms to arrest and secure absent members for attendance. This action can't be done until after the Texas House determines that quorum hasn't been met due to unexcused absences.
However, the authority of the sergeant-at-arms doesn't extend outside of Texas, Rep. Brent Money said on July 30.
"This is not theoretical-it was used in 2003 and again in 2021," Money said. "Should members flee the state for an extended period, the Governor has the constitutional authority to declare their seats vacant under the Texas Election Code. This would lower the quorum threshold and allow the House to act."
Rep. Nate Schatzline echoed Money's statement on Sunday, hours after gloating on X that the redrawn map draws Democratic US Rep. Jasmine Crockett's residence out of her district.
Rep. Jeff Leach responded to Johnson, whom he said was "trusted and respected and worked well with." The two are the chair and joint chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
"If Ann chooses to flee the State and to shirk her responsibilities and duties to her constituents and to the people of Texas, she should immediately be stripped of her Vice Chairmanship," Leach said.
Rep. Jared Patterson also called for arrests, but showed a spark of creativity -- in a post, he called on Abbott to explore redistricting of Texas House seats to further solidify one-party rule in the state.
"[Abbott] reserves the right to add items to the Special Session call, including redistricting Texas House seats. If all options are on the table, ALL options should be explored," Patterson said.
Abbott released an ad Sunday that targeted Rep. Wu directly. The ad doesn't mention redistricting, and instead said that Wu was blocking flood relief legislation.
Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, told KXAN that Texas Republicans were within their rights to redraw the map to favor the GOP.
"Elected Republicans in the state of Texas should be doing everything in our power to make sure that the United States Congress does not fall into the hands of the liberal extremist Democrats," Harrison said.
National Democrats voice support
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement that President Trump and the Republicans have long engaged in "rigging the system, breaking the rules, and scheming to hold onto power." He also said that the Republican lawmakers were attempting to redistrict to "enrich a handful of elites."
"For weeks, we’ve been warning that if Republicans in Texas want a showdown — if they want to delay flood relief to cravenly protect Donald Trump from an inevitable midterm meltdown — then we’d give them that showdown," Martin said. "That’s exactly what Texas Democrats did today: blowing up Republicans’ sham special session that's virtually ignored the plight of flood victims in Kerr County."
He added that the DNC was "proud to support these legislators in standing up and showing real leadership."
"Republicans thought they could just rig the maps and change the rules without the American people taking notice. They were dead wrong," Martin added. "After this fight is done, we’re coming full force for the Republicans’ House majority.”
U.S. Representative Greg Casar, D-Austin, told KXAN he felt the state representatives were defending democracy.
"Texas Democrats are going around the country to mobilize everyone against this corrupt Trump plan, and by not being in the state capitol, they can continue to delay that plan while we mobilize the country around protecting voting [corruption]," he said.
Casar, whose district he represents spans from Pflugerville to San Antonio, said the new map is too extreme.
"Donald Trump's plan is to change our districts -- to rig the way these elections will work before anybody ever gets to cast a vote for people," Casar continued.