FBI Assisting Texas In Hunt For ‘Runaway’ Democrats, GOP Senator Says
The FBI is now involved in the effort to locate Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to obstruct a redistricting vote, according to Senator John Cornyn, who announced Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel had approved his request for federal assistance.
Cornyn revealed the development just two days after formally asking the FBI to support Texas state authorities in apprehending the missing legislators, who left the state in an attempt to deny the Republican-controlled legislature a quorum.
“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn said. “We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.”
President Donald Trump has voiced his support for the crackdown, praising both Patel and Cornyn for ensuring the federal government is not used as a shield for partisan gamesmanship. Trump has pushed red states to redraw their congressional maps to correct undercounts and misallocations from the 2020 Census, and to ensure that Republican voters are not diluted by outdated or manipulated district lines.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has already ordered the arrest of the absent Democrats and taken legal steps to remove Democrat House Caucus Chair Gene Wu from office for leading the walkout. Attorney General Ken Paxton has also launched a criminal investigation into the Democrat-aligned group Powered by People, led by Beto O’Rourke, which is funding the AWOL lawmakers and covering their daily fines.
Democrats claim their stunt is a protest against gerrymandering, but Republicans have made it clear that abandoning the state and obstructing legislative duties crosses the line into criminal behavior. Cornyn warned that the lawmakers may have broken state and federal laws by evading legislative responsibilities, and argued that federal cooperation is essential to restoring order and accountability.
“These legislators have committed potential criminal acts in their rush to avoid their constitutional responsibilities and must be fully investigated and held accountable,” Cornyn wrote in his original letter to Patel.
While Cornyn is running for re-election in 2026, his primary rival — Ken Paxton — has emerged as a leading force in calling for harsher penalties against Democrat lawmakers who refuse to do their jobs. Paxton has promised that any legislator found taking illegal bribes or violating the public trust will be removed from office.
The Democrats, meanwhile, are holed up in Illinois — a state with some of the most aggressive Democrat gerrymandering in the country — and have launched a fundraising effort to sustain their absence. Their move has drawn criticism even from some moderates, who question the legitimacy of skipping out on legislative work while asking for donations.
Former Democrat Congressman Colin Allred, who lost to Senator Ted Cruz in 2024 and is now running again in 2026, blasted the GOP response. “This isn’t about ‘locating’ anyone — they’re not hiding,” Allred claimed on X. “It’s about silencing dissent and weaponizing law enforcement.”
But Republicans say Allred is defending lawmakers who are violating their oath of office.
Trump has called the situation “a disgrace” and warned that similar tactics may be used in other states if Democrats continue to abuse census errors and delay redistricting. With the FBI now backing Texas law enforcement and deadlines looming, the clock is ticking for the AWOL lawmakers — and the political price may soon be far greater than a daily fine.