Live updates: Texas Republicans push ahead with redistricting after Democrats flee state

Guardian

Texas Democratic lawmakers rally outside Governors Mansion to protest redistricting of maps  follow live

Metaculus

Percent of US population in Texas

Reuters

Texas Governor Orders Arrest Democrats Absent Monday Redistricting Vote 2025 08 04

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday — after earlier <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/texas-gov-abbott-threatens-to-remove-democrats-who-fled-state">threatening to remove Democrats from office</a> — ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest Democratic lawmakers who left the state on Sunday to block a quorum for congressional redistricting legislation, citing "dereliction of duty."

Office of the Texas Governor

The Hill

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday — after earlier threatening to remove Democrats from office — ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest Democratic lawmakers who left the state on Sunday to block a quorum for congressional redistricting legislation, citing "dereliction of duty."

The Texas House voted 85-6 on Monday to approve civil arrest warrants for more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were absent, with House Speaker Dustin Burrows signing the warrants after the vote and saying he is working with Texas law enforcement "to locate members."

The Texas Tribune

The Texas House voted 85-6 on Monday to approve civil arrest warrants for more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were absent, with House Speaker Dustin Burrows signing the warrants after the vote and saying he is working with Texas law enforcement "to locate members."

The absent Democratic lawmakers fled to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to block passage of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/texas-gop-unveils-congressional-map-targeting-dem-seats">a Republican redistricting plan</a> that could potentially give the GOP five additional U.S. congressional seats.

The absent Democratic lawmakers fled to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to block passage of a Republican redistricting plan that could potentially give the GOP five additional U.S. congressional seats.

The arrest warrants apply only within Texas state lines, limiting their enforcement, as most of the legislators are in other states under the authority of Democratic governors, such as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

New York Post

The arrest warrants apply only within Texas state lines, limiting their enforcement, as most of the legislators are in other states under the authority of Democratic governors, such as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Abbott also directed the Texas Rangers to investigate the Democratic lawmakers for potential bribery violations, alleging they may have solicited funds to cover the $500 daily fines imposed for missing legislative sessions.

News Nation Now

Abbott also directed the Texas Rangers to investigate the Democratic lawmakers for potential bribery violations, alleging they may have solicited funds to cover the $500 daily fines imposed for missing legislative sessions.

The redistricting effort is supported by President Donald Trump, who has stated the new congressional map could help Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 2026 midterm elections.

Foxnews

The redistricting effort is supported by President Donald Trump, who has stated the new congressional map could help Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 2026 midterm elections.

CNN #0

Guardian #0

Metaculus #0

Reuters #0

The Hill #

The Texas House voted 85-6 on Monday to approve civil arrest warrants for more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were absent, with House Speaker Dustin Burrows signing the warrants after the vote and saying he is working with Texas law enforcement “to locate members.”

The Texas Tribune #

CNN #

The Texas House voted 85-6 on Monday to approve civil arrest warrants for more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were absent, with House Speaker Dustin Burrows signing the warrants after the vote and saying he is working with Texas law enforcement “to locate members.”

Reuters #

The arrest warrants apply only within Texas state lines, limiting their enforcement as most of the legislators are in other states under the authority of Democratic governors like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

New York Post #

The arrest warrants apply only within Texas state lines, limiting their enforcement as most of the legislators are in other states under the authority of Democratic governors like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Abbott also directed the Texas Rangers to investigate the Democratic lawmakers for potential bribery violations, alleging they may have solicited funds to cover the $500 daily fines imposed for missing legislative sessions.</span

News Nation Now #

Abbott's decisive action protects democracy by holding lawmakers accountable for abandoning their sworn duties to Texas voters. These Democrats are blocking critical flood relief legislation and property tax cuts while taxpayers foot the bill for their political theater. The governor has every legal right to compel their return since breaking quorum violates their oath of office.

Abbott's decisive action protects democracy by holding lawmakers accountable for abandoning their sworn duties to Texas voters. These Democrats are blocking critical flood relief legislation and property tax cuts while taxpayers foot the bill for their political theater. The governor has every legal right to compel their return since breaking quorum violates their oath of office.

Texas Attorney General

Texas Attorney General #

Attorney General Ken Paxton Releases Statement Regarding Rogue Democrat Lawmakers Who Fled Texas to Break Quorum

Republicans are weaponizing hollow arrest warrants to bully Democrats who fled to stop an unfair redistricting scheme. Legal experts say these warrants can’t be enforced outside Texas, and defiant governors in blue states have vowed not to cooperate. Democrats are bravely defending voters from a GOP power grab that risks dismantling fair representation and undermining democracy itself.

Republicans are weaponizing hollow arrest warrants to bully Democrats who fled to stop an unfair redistricting scheme. Legal experts say these warrants can’t be enforced outside Texas, and defiant governors in blue states have vowed not to cooperate. Democrats are bravely defending voters from a GOP power grab that risks dismantling fair representation and undermining democracy itself.

Democracy Docket

Democracy Docket #

Republicans Issue Arrest Warrants for Texas Democrats, But They Likely Arent Enforceable

There is a 50% chance that at least 9.18% of the U.S. population will live in Texas in the next census, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 50% chance that at least 9.18% of the U.S. population will live in Texas in the next census, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus #

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Texas Gov. Abbott Orders Arrest of Democrats Who Fled State

Crime & justice

Gerrymandering

Politics

United States of America

Abbott's decisive action protects democracy by holding lawmakers accountable for abandoning their sworn duties to the people of Texas. These Democrats are blocking critical flood relief legislation and property tax cuts while taxpayers foot the bill for their political theater. The governor has every legal right to compel their return since breaking quorum violates their oath of office.

Abbott's decisive action protects democracy by holding lawmakers accountable for abandoning their sworn duties to the people of Texas. These Democrats are blocking critical flood relief legislation and property tax cuts while taxpayers foot the bill for their political theater. The governor has every legal right to compel their return since breaking quorum violates their oath of office.

Republicans are weaponizing hollow arrest warrants to bully Democrats who fled to stop an unfair redistricting scheme. Legal experts say these warrants can't be enforced outside Texas, and defiant governors in blue states have vowed not to cooperate. Democrats are bravely defending voters from a GOP power grab that risks dismantling fair representation and undermining democracy itself.

Republicans are weaponizing hollow arrest warrants to bully Democrats who fled to stop an unfair redistricting scheme. Legal experts say these warrants can't be enforced outside Texas, and defiant governors in blue states have vowed not to cooperate. Democrats are bravely defending voters from a GOP power grab that risks dismantling fair representation and undermining democracy itself.

There's a 50% chance that at least 9.18% of the U.S. population will live in Texas in the next census, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that at least 9.18% of the U.S. population will live in Texas in the next census, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Texas Gov. Abbott Orders Arrest of Democrats Who Left State

Texas Gov. Abbott Orders Arrest of Democrats Who FledLeft State

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