Texas Democrats Flee Again: Abbott Threatens Arrest Over Redistricting Fight

In a dramatic but historically familiar move, Texas Democratic lawmakers have once again left the state to block a Republican-led redistricting vote, prompting Governor Greg Abbott to threaten arrests to restore quorum. This isn’t new territory for Texas politics—lawmakers have used walkouts to stall controversial legislation as far back as 1870. From thwarting primary date changes in 1979 to voting restrictions in 2021, the tactic of breaking quorum is a well-worn page from the Texas playbook. While Abbott’s threat to arrest absent lawmakers echoes past standoffs, legal and logistical hurdles have historically made enforcement tricky. As history repeats itself in Austin, the latest showdown is just one more chapter in the state’s long tradition of legislative brinkmanship.