Texas House Democrats fled the state on Aug. 3 in an effort to block a vote on new congressional district maps and have not said when they’ll return. Democrats have said the new map is intentionally racist.
Here’s what you need to know:
🗣️ Trump Requested New Maps
Lawmakers can update congressional district maps every 10 years. Redistricting was not included in this year’s legislative session and was not going to be on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda until President Donald Trump got involved.
Trump, according to the Texas Tribune, called Abbott and convinced him to put redistricting on the agenda in an effort to pick up five congressional seats.
During a Tuesday CNBC interview, Trump said, “I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know. And we are entitled to five more seats.”
The new map would split Travis County into four districts and pit Democratic Congressmen Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar against each other.
🗳️ Fleeing the State Deprives the House of a Quorum
By leaving Texas, Democrats are denying the house of a quorum, which is the number of lawmakers it needs to be able to vote on a measure. The 150-member House has to have at least two-thirds of its members present to conduct business. More than 50 Democratic lawmakers left the state for Illinois, New York, and Boston (where some were attending a conference), making that impossible.
Lawmakers have used breaking quorum as a strategy for more than 100 years.
The Texas House adjourned due to lack of quorum for a second day in a row on Tuesday. While most House activity is now on pause, some legislative committees are still meeting.
🚓 Abbott Wants Lawmakers Arrested
The Texas House has issued civil arrest warrants for the missing lawmakers. Abbott has told the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest lawmakers, and has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate them. Both departments only have jurisdiction in Texas.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn sent a letter to the FBI on Aug. 5 requesting help finding and arresting lawmakers, KUT reported.
Abbott has threatened to remove lawmakers from their seats, and leaders have given members until Friday to get back to Austin or face “aggressive legal action,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said. Abbott has also suggested that those who fundraise to cover a $500-a-day fine for breaking quorum may be committing bribery.
On Aug. 5, Abbott petitioned the Supreme Court of Texas, seeking to remove Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston and the House minority leader, from office. Paxton appeared to say that Abbott’s petition was improper but asked the court to not dismiss it until Friday, the deadline set for Democratic lawmakers to return.
Paxton then asked the Texas Supreme Court to expel 13 of the Democrats who fled the state, claiming they made incriminating statements on their refusal to return.
💰 Beto O’Rourke Is Not Allowed To Financially Support Runaway Dems
A Tarrant County judge this month ruled that former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and his political group are not allowed to give Democrats who fled the state money after a lawsuit was filed by Paxton, saying O’Rourke’s political group was illegally and deceptively raising money. Sources had told the Texas Tribune that the group was helping to finance the Texas Democrats’ quorum break.
