Texas House Issues Arrest Warrants For Rogue Democrats Who Fled To Blue States

The Texas House of Representatives took formal action Monday against more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled the state in a coordinated effort to block a Republican-led redistricting plan, issuing arrest warrants and ordering law enforcement to track them down and return them to the Capitol.

Republican lawmakers passed a resolution empowering the House sergeant-at-arms to work with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to detain and bring back the absconding Democrats, who fled to states like Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. Though the arrest warrants carry no criminal or civil penalties and are unenforceable outside Texas, they signal the legislature’s refusal to let Democrats sabotage the legislative process without consequence.

“Texans don’t run from a fight,” Governor Greg Abbott said during a Monday appearance on Fox News. “To run to states like New York and Illinois to protest redistricting is kind of like running to Wisconsin to protest cheese. It’s just kind of outrageous.”

The walkout, which Democrats orchestrated on Sunday, denied the legislature the quorum needed to begin its special session—stalling key Republican priorities, including a congressional redistricting map that could add up to five GOP-leaning seats. By fleeing to blue states, the Democrats effectively shut down state governance and left behind urgent disaster relief bills and tax reforms.

Abbott has directed DPS to coordinate with the House in retrieving the lawmakers. Though the warrants themselves cannot cross state lines, any lawmakers who return to Texas may be detained and escorted to the Capitol floor. The same tactic was used successfully during a similar stunt in 2021, when Democrats fled to block an election integrity bill. That bill passed anyway after members were compelled to return under threat of arrest.

The governor also warned that Democrats could face felony bribery charges for soliciting donations to fund their escape. “They are interfering with the people’s government, blocking disaster relief, and asking for money to do it,” Abbott said. “That raises serious legal questions.”

In recent days, the rogue Democrats have attempted to justify their flight by standing alongside far-left governors like Kathy Hochul of New York and JB Pritzker of Illinois. Texas Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu accused Republicans of “attacking Texas communities” and “hiding things from the public,” despite the redistricting hearings being held publicly across the state.

“We’re not here to play political games,” Wu said, in what many observers saw as a press stunt. “We’re here to demand an end to this corrupt process.”

But Republicans say it’s the Democrats who are undermining democracy by abandoning their sworn duty. “The people of Texas elected all of us to do a job. If they can’t face a vote, they don’t belong in office,” said one GOP lawmaker.

As the state awaits the return of its missing legislators, the House has vowed to hold daily sessions—whether or not quorum is met. The warrants are in place, the governor is mobilized, and the pressure is building.

If the runaway Democrats thought fleeing to friendly blue-state governors would shield them from accountability, they may soon learn otherwise. In Texas, you don’t get to legislate by running away.