Texas governor threatens to remove Democratic lawmakers who fled state to thwart redistricting vote

A standoff is brewing in Texas over Republican plans to redraw congressional districts in the GOP’s favor.

Democratic lawmakers have fled the state to block the Legislature’s redistricting vote, but they could be removed from office or even arrested if they don’t return Monday afternoon.

Gov. Gregg Abbott, a Republican, announced that he will exercise a state law to remove them from the Texas House if they do not return by 3 p.m. Monday. He also threatened to charge them with felonies.

“These absences are not merely unintended and unavoidable interruptions in public service, like a sudden illness or a family emergency,” Mr. Abbott said. “Instead, these absences were premeditated for an illegitimate purpose …”

The governor said Democrats who left the state are “soliciting funds” to evade fines the Texas House may impose on them, which he said could result in bribery charges because the funds were to help them skip legislative votes.

“I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons,” Mr. Abbott threatened.

Texas Democrats said they plan on hunkering down in Illinois, New York and other blue states for the next two weeks in order to stop the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing congressional district lines to make it easier for Republican candidates to win five additional seats in Congress.

The redistricting efforts are part of the GOP’s plan to try to hold onto control of the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections.

Redistricting has been used by both parties to expand the number of seats they control in Congress.

The Republican Party currently controls the U.S. House by three seats, and Texas’ redistricting plan would create five new GOP-leaning districts in the Lone Star State.

Texas Democrats are determined to block Republicans from making it easier to hold onto their majority in 2026.

Rep. Sheryl Cole, who represents the 46th Texas House District, posted Sunday on social media an image of herself boarding a plane to Chicago. She told followers she was leaving Texas “to stop this rigged redistricting process.”

Democrats say they are refusing to show up in order to leave the Texas House without a quorum, or the minimum number of lawmakers that must be present to conduct legislative business.

The 50-plus Democrats who fled Texas over the weekend indicated they’ll stay away until the Legislature’s special session ends in two weeks.

Democrats signaled they are unlikely to return by the deadline set by Mr. Abbott.

The Texas House Democratic Caucus, responding to Mr. Abbott’s threat of removal, said in a statement: “Come and take it.”

Mr. Abbott said he has legal authority to remove the lawmakers because their purposeful absence, intended to interrupt the Legislature, amounted to abandonment of their House seats.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the U.S. Senate, said the Democrats “should be found, arrested and brought back to the Capitol immediately.”

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, said he’ll shield the fleeing Democrats while they are in his state.

“We are going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them,” Mr. Pritzker said. “We know that they are doing the right thing. We know they are following the law. It’s Ken Paxton who doesn’t follow the law. It’s the leaders of Texas who are attempting not to follow the law. They are the ones that need to be held accountable.”