AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats on Monday prevented their state’s House of Representatives from moving forward, at least for now, with a redrawn congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to shore up Republicans’ 2026 midterm prospects as his political standing falters.
After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members of the opposition from their seats. Democrats have countered that Abbott is using “smoke and mirrors” to assert legal authority he does not have.
The Republican-dominated House issued civil arrest warrants intended to compel the return of absent members, but it was not immediately clearly whether those could or would be enforced beyond Texas borders.
“If you continue to go down this road, there will be consequences,” House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows said from the chamber floor. He later told reporters that includes fines and said Abbott has offered assistance from the state Department of Public Safety to round up absent legislators.
The Democratic revolt and Abbott’s threats ratcheted up a widening fight over congressional maps that began in Texas but expanded to include Democratic governors who have floated the possibility of rushing to redraw their own state maps in retaliation, even if their options are limited. The dispute also offers another example of Trump’s aggressive view of presidential power and his grip on the Republican Party nationally, while testing the longstanding balance of powers between the federal government and individual states.
