Sunday night, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a heated statement warning of legal consequences for Democratic members of the Texas House who chose to leave the state to break quorum and block Republican-backed legislation earlier in the day.
The governor warned that those who fail to return could face serious consequences, including removal from office, felony charges, and extradition.
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The Governor demanded that all absent lawmakers return to the House chamber by 3 p.m. on Monday.
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Abbott accused the lawmakers of deliberately abandoning their posts, labeling the walkout a “premeditated” attempt to obstruct the legislative process of the state.
“Real Texans do not run from a fight. But that’s exactly what most Texas House Democrats just did,” Abbott said in the statement. “Rather than doing their job and voting on urgent legislation affecting the lives of all Texans, they fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum needed to conduct business.”
The governor’s statement also outlined a potential consequence for those who chose to leave: the invocation of Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382, which allows the governor to petition a court to remove elected officials who have allegedly forfeited office due to abandonment.
“When the governor calls a special session, our Constitution provides that the ‘Legislature shall meet.’ It’s not optional. It’s a duty,” Abbott stated. “The absent Democrat House members were elected to meet and vote on legislation — not to prevent votes they don’t like.”
The statement also included a warning that fundraising efforts by Democratic lawmakers to cover fines for missed votes are in danger of violating state bribery laws.
According to Abbott, any lawmaker who “solicits, accepts or agrees to accept” funds for the purpose of evading legislative duties could face felony charges.
Abbott went further, stating he would use his “full extradition authority” to facilitate a return to Texas for any lawmaker who may have committed a felony by participating in the quorum break.
“The truancy ends now,” Abbott said.
The Democratic walkout echoes similar tactics used in previous legislative sessions, including the widely publicized 2021 quorum break over voting legislation.
Democratic leaders in Texas have not yet issued a formal response to the governor’s latest statement, but party officials have previously defended the walkout as a necessary move to protect the rights of marginalized communities in Texas.
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