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Over 50 Democratic lawmakers in Texas are facing arrest warrants for resisting a Trump-backed redistricting proposal.
On Monday (August 4), the Texas House voted 85-6 to track down and arrest Democrats who weren't present when the chamber gaveled at 3 p.m., per the Tribune.
Dozens of Texas Democrats fled the state over the weekend in an effort to block the GOP's proposed redraw of the congressional map. House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he would immediately sign civil warrants for each of the legislators, making room for the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol.
Burrows condemned the lawmakers who had left the state, saying Monday that they had "shirked their responsibilities" amid the 30-day special legislative session called by Governor Greg Abbott.
“You understand that the issues before us, disaster recovery, fighting for the families who lost loved ones in the floods, human trafficking and more, are not abstract policy debates,” Burrows said. “Instead of confronting those challenges, some of our colleagues have fled the state in their duty.”
Abbott called the special session amid pressure from Trump to redraw the state's congressional lines. The new map would effectively give Republicans an additional five seats in the House. Democrats have argued that the proposed redraw will suppress voters of color and is a blatant power grab orchestrated by Trump to maintain control in Washington.
Democratic lawmakers fled Texas and flew to cities like Chicago, Boston, and Albany to stop the redistricting plan from moving forward. The move left the chamber without the two-thirds quorum needed to conduct legislative business.
Abbott threatened to remove Democratic lawmakers from office after they fled the state.
“This is an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office,” the governor said Sunday (August 3). “They took an oath to serve their constituents. Running away to avoid a vote is cowardice.”
On Monday, GOP Rep. Charlie Geren paved the way for the arrest warrants by motioning for a "call of the House," which requires all members to stay within the chamber unless excused. Anyone who isn't present can be “sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found,” by the sergeant-at-arms, according to House rules.
Texas Democrats who are arrested won't face civil or criminal charges. The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic. In 2021, the House used the same move to force Democrats back to work after they fled to Washington, D.C. to protest GOP voting restrictions.
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