In response to the Democratic walkout over redistricting, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows stated that any lawmakers who remained out of state past the weekend deadline would be arrested upon their return.
According to Fox News, a new special session of the Texas House kicked off Friday, but once again, a quorum couldn’t be reached as Democrats continued their protest by staying absent. The stakes are high with Republican-drawn congressional maps on the line, maps that could create up to five GOP-friendly districts.
This latest showdown in Austin follows a morning adjournment of the current special session by Republicans, only for Gov. Greg Abbott to call a second special session just minutes later. The GOP is pushing hard to reshape Texas districts, while Democrats who bolted to blue states signal they might return soon.
Burrows made his stance crystal clear at the start of the second session, expecting a quorum by Monday with the Democrats’ likely return. He bluntly stated that any who sneak back over the weekend will face civil arrest warrants and be “compelled to this chamber.”
“Do not think you have permission to return to Texas and enjoy a peaceful weekend before finally showing up to work,” Burrows declared, signaling zero tolerance for what he sees as dodging duty. His words underscore a broader frustration with tactics that stall legislative progress on critical issues like redistricting.
Gov. Abbott, meanwhile, isn’t backing down either, calling for session after session until the GOP agenda passes. He even suggested to Fox News Digital that the state is exploring whether these absent Democrats broke bribery laws by accepting funds to break the quorum.
The Texas drama is just one front in a larger national clash over congressional redistricting, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowing to “meet fire with fire” by redrawing maps to favor Democrats. His plan involves creating five more Democrat-leaning districts, a direct counter to the Texas GOP push.
Newsom’s strategy, however, faces hurdles with California’s popular non-partisan redistricting commission, which he aims to sidestep temporarily through a voter-approved constitutional amendment. His claim of fighting a rigged system before “one vote is cast” in future midterms rings hollow when the move mirrors the very partisan map-drawing he critiques.
In Texas, the state Senate already passed the new maps, but the House Democrats’ walkout to states like Illinois and New York blocked a vote. Their absence has left Republicans fuming, with fines of up to $500 per day looming over the fleeing lawmakers.
Texas Democrats, including House Democratic leader Rep. Gene Wu, insist they’ll return after the current session’s adjournment, though they’ve dodged specifics on timing. Wu framed their return as passing “the baton” to a nationwide Democratic fight, promising court battles against the GOP maps.
Abbott isn’t playing soft, urging Texas’ highest court to oust Wu and asking Attorney General Ken Paxton to remove 13 other Democratic lawmakers from office. His statement on Friday called their absence a dereliction of duty, accusing them of running “away from their responsibility.”
The Republican drive, backed by President Donald Trump, aims to bolster their slim House majority ahead of future midterms, a lesson learned after losing ground in 2018. While Texas faces no constitutional barriers to mid-decade redistricting, California’s path under Newsom involves a special election and a two-thirds legislative vote, a steeper climb.
In California, opposition brews from figures like former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who support the non-partisan commission Newsom wants to bypass for three election cycles. Even as Newsom promises to restore the commission post-2030, public opinion polls show most Californians favor the current system over partisan meddling.
Back in Texas, with Republicans holding 25 of 38 congressional seats compared to California Democrats’ grip on 43 of 52, the redistricting fight is a raw display of political muscle on both sides. Abbott’s resolve to keep calling special sessions shows a determination to outlast the opposition, no matter the theatrics.
This tug-of-war isn’t just about maps; it’s about who shapes America’s political future, with both parties digging in for a bruising fight. As Texas Democrats weigh their return, the threat of arrest and legal consequences hangs heavy, a stark reminder that in politics, absence doesn’t always mean escape.
