GOP's House map overhaul: Texas governer Greg Abbott orders arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled state; session remains halted
Texas Republican governor Greg Abbott on Monday ordered state authorities to arrest dozens of Democratic lawmakers who fled to Illinois in an effort to block a Republican-led congressional redistricting vote, intensifying a political standoff that has brought the legislative session to a halt.
'To ensure compliance, I ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans,' Abbott said.
'This order will remain in effect until all missing Democrat House members are accounted for and brought to the Texas Capitol,' he added as quoted by The New York Post.
— GregAbbott_TX (@GregAbbott_TX)
The walkout by 51 House Democrats prevented the Texas legislature from reaching the two-thirds quorum required for a vote, stalling a special legislative session called by Abbott.
The session was aimed at advancing redistricting plans, providing disaster relief for recent Texas floods, and banning THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana.
'Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,' Abbott said in a statement.
'By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Barranqueras: Unsold Sofas Prices May Surprise You (Prices May Surprise You)
Sofas | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
The Texas house ofrepresentatives voted 85-6 on Monday to approve a motion calling for the Democrats to return. House Speaker Dustin Burrows then directed the chamber's sergeant at arms 'to send for all absentees … under warrant of arrest, if necessary.'
Most of the absent lawmakers traveled to Illinois, where dozens joined Democratic Governor JB Pritzker on Sunday night at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters.
Roughly half a dozen other Democrats joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany on Monday.
'If that's what's called for, that's what's called for,' Hochul said of the decision to leave Austin. She went on to call Abbott 'un-American' and accused him of 'rigging' the next congressional election for the GOP, reported The New York Post.
'To subvert the will of the people, they're hellbent on rigging the system. Rigging the system is un-American. Congressional districts are never drawn mid-decade,' she argued.
The redistricting proposal, supported by President Trump, could net Republicans up to five additional seats in the US house of representatives—potentially expanding the GOP's narrow majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gov. Newsom vows to 'fight fire with fire' over Texas Republicans' redistricting plan
California governor Gavin Newsom said he'll fight back if Republicans in Texas succeed in redrawing the state's congressional districts. "California will not sit by idly and watch this democracy waste away. We'll fight fire with fire, we'll assert ourselves, and we'll punch above our weight, and it will have profound impacts on the national outcome," Newsom said at a media conference in Sacramento on Monday (August 4). The more than 50 Democratic members of the Texas legislature left the state on Sunday (August 3) to deny Republicans the quorum necessary to vote on the redistricting plan, which President Donald Trump has championed, and which he and his Republicans hope will protect the party's narrow U.S. House majority in next year's midterm elections. Newsom said the president has tried it before. Show more Show less
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Who is Rep. Delia Ramirez? Why is social media calling for her deportation after 'proud Guatemalan' comment
Democratic Congresswoman Delia Ramirez is at the center of a heated political and social media firestorm after declaring at a Mexico City summit, in Spanish, 'I'm a proud Guatemalan before I'm an American.' The statement, which she made at the Panamerican Congress attended by progressive lawmakers from across the Americas, has sparked widespread outrage on U.S. social media platforms, with some users calling for her deportation and questioning her loyalty to the United States. Who is Delia Ramirez? Delia Catalina Ramirez represents Illinois's 3rd congressional district and is a prominent progressive voice in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023. Born in Chicago to undocumented Guatemalan immigrant parents, Ramirez has a long record of advocacy on immigration reform , housing, and social justice issues. She was the first Guatemalan American elected to the Illinois General Assembly before advancing to Congress. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Ramirez is married to Boris Hernandez, a former DACA recipient, and is the only member of Congress in a mixed-status marriage fighting for rights of undocumented immigrants, often called 'Dreamers.' Her identity and heritage are central to her political platform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Social media uproar and deportation calls Ramirez's assertion of Guatemalan pride before American identity ignited a storm on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok. Critics accused her of disloyalty, questioning her allegiance as a U.S. lawmaker and demanding her deportation, despite her American citizenship by birth. Live Events Trending hashtags included calls like #DeportDelia and #AmericanFirst, reflecting a significant and vocal backlash. Many posts framed her remarks as unpatriotic and "anti-American," fueling a broader debate about identity, citizenship, and the role of immigrant-descended politicians in the US. Some users also demanded her removal from the Congress saying 'She can, and should be kicked out of Congress immediately. Her allegiance is not to the United States of America, that in her own words.' Supporters condemned the attacks as xenophobic and misleading, emphasizing Ramirez's right to pride in her heritage while also being fully American. Advocates pointed out her active role in pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and defending marginalized communities in Congress. They argued the uproar was politically motivated and underscored ongoing racial and immigrant-related tensions in American public discourse. The White House condemned the remarks by Ramirez and other lawmakers at the summit, with spokesperson Liz Huston calling the comments 'despicable' and accusing them of putting Americans last. Meanwhile, Ramirez's office has stood by her statement, framing it as a personal declaration of heritage and a call to recognize the contributions of immigrants to the US.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Gurram Paapi Reddy
Trump Breaks Silence On Sydney Sweeney's AE Ad: 'If She's Republican, I Love It...' Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad had already stirred debate over its 'great genes' wordplay, but now, her confirmed Republican voter registration has added a political twist. According to The Guardian, Sweeney registered GOP in Florida just months before Donald Trump returned to the White House. Reacting to the news, Trump praised the actress, saying, 'If she's Republican, her ad is fantastic.' The denim campaign had faced backlash for being tone-deaf and promoting outdated beauty ideals. This isn't Sweeney's first brush with controversy, her 2022 family party photos featuring MAGA hats sparked similar heat. She later asked fans to 'stop making assumptions' about her views. American Eagle has defended the ad, stating it was always about 'her jeans, her story.' Now, with Trump's public support, the cultural divide around Sweeney's image only deepens. 1.8K views | 20 hours ago
