Texas Governor Greg Abbott isn’t playing games. After a group of Texas Democrat lawmakers fled the state—again—to avoid doing their jobs, Abbott made it crystal clear: if they don’t return to Texas by August 4 to fulfill their duties, they may find themselves out of office permanently. And this time, the threat isn’t rhetorical.
In a strongly worded statement issued over the weekend, Governor Abbott confirmed that he’s prepared to invoke state law to have absentee Democrats removed from office for abandoning their constitutional responsibilities. Their offense? Fleeing to Illinois in a calculated stunt to block a GOP-led redistricting vote during a special session. The proposed map would give Republicans five additional U.S. House seats—a move the left desperately wants to stall.
“Real Texans do not run from a fight,” Abbott said bluntly. “These absences were premeditated for an illegitimate purpose… that amounts to an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office.”
Let’s be clear: this isn’t the first time Texas Democrats have pulled this nonsense. They tried it back in 2021 too, hopping on private jets and smiling for the cameras while avoiding a vote on voter integrity legislation. Back then, it was a PR stunt. Now, it’s a pattern of dereliction—and Abbott has had enough.
Citing Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382, Abbott explained that a district court may determine a legislator has vacated office by abandoning it. If so, he has the authority to fill those vacancies. In other words, if these lawmakers don’t want to do their jobs, he’ll find Texans who will.
Abbott also dropped another legal bomb: felony charges. He noted that many of these absentee Democrats are raising money to pay off the fines they’re accruing by violating House rules. According to Texas law, any elected official who solicits or accepts funds to skip a vote or evade legislative duties could be in violation of bribery statutes. Anyone providing such funds could be prosecuted as well.
And Abbott isn’t just threatening consequences—he’s ready to use his extradition power to bring them back to Texas to face justice.
The message is loud and clear: Texas isn’t going to tolerate legislators who treat their jobs like optional Zoom meetings. If you were elected to serve, show up and vote. If you run away, don’t be surprised when the door gets locked behind you.
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