Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest state Democrats if they obstruct the plan to redraw the state's congressional maps.

[ColdHardTruth]

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest state Democrats if they obstruct the plan to redraw the state's congressional maps. President Donald Trump reportedly said the GOP will attempt to secure five new Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives through redistricting.

Redistricting Texas​

Republicans currently hold an eight-seat majority in the House, with three seats vacant. The president's controversial plan drew immediate pushback from Democrats nationwide.

"We have to be crystal clear about what this is, and the White House and Donald Trump are trying to fix the 2026 election now," John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said on The Bulwark. "In July of the year before the election happens, they're trying to gerrymander a state to an absurd degree to steal seats."

Paxton's actions here are an absolute violation of the law that need to send him to prison for the rest of his life.

MSN

 

[j brown's body]

Why not? Trump is already arresting them.

 

[The Brad Dad]

He's full of shit. And **** the GOP with this fascist shit out in the open. There is coming a time when the push is gonna receive quite the shove.

 

[Napoleon]

It wouldn’t be the first time Texas Democrats fled the State to avoid doing their job and had to be brought back in cuffs.

 

[Blue Dog]

I do not support any elected officials leaving to prevent a quorum. I do believe that elections should have consequences.

With that being said, AG Paxton continues to promulgate performance artistry. He is seeking a Senate seat and determined to keep himself “relevant”. The man is a reactionary nihilist who has no business representing anyone, much less Texas…

 

[The Brad Dad]

It wouldn’t be the first time Texas Democrats fled the State to avoid doing their job and had to be brought back in cuffs.

Their job of what? Denying the will of their voters?

 

[Phys251]

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest state Democrats if they obstruct the plan to redraw the state's congressional maps. President Donald Trump reportedly said the GOP will attempt to secure five new Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives through redistricting.

Redistricting Texas​

Republicans currently hold an eight-seat majority in the House, with three seats vacant. The president's controversial plan drew immediate pushback from Democrats nationwide.

"We have to be crystal clear about what this is, and the White House and Donald Trump are trying to fix the 2026 election now," John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said on The Bulwark. "In July of the year before the election happens, they're trying to gerrymander a state to an absurd degree to steal seats."

Paxton's actions here are an absolute violation of the law that need to send him to prison for the rest of his life.

MSN

Ken Paxton is a power-hungry MAGAt.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

Not much Paxton can do if they leave the state.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

Ken Paxton is a power-hungry MAGAt.

Which is a good reason for him to spend the remaining years of his life in a cell under a no human contact order.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

It wouldn’t be the first time Texas Democrats fled the State to avoid doing their job and had to be brought back in cuffs.

Lets not juggle the sacks of corrupt fascists. Doing so is a bad look.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

Lets not juggle the sacks of corrupt fascists. Doing so is a bad look.

He doesn't know what he is talking about.

 

[Along Came Jones]

Not much Paxton can do if they leave the state.

It will not be Paxton who does it. The doing will be done by Governor Abbott.

If the Democrats cut and run, Abbott will simply call forth additional special sessions. Those legislators squirrelled away out of state have jobs and families and Abbott can cut off their legislative pay while they're on the lam. How long can they afford their vacations? It eventually brought them home last time and the legislation they opposed was passed. And, of course, Abbott can send the DPS out to fetch legislators hiding at home. It becomes pretty much a repetitive game.

 

[Napoleon]

It will not be Paxton who does it. The doing will be done by Governor Abbott.

If the Democrats cut and run, Abbott will simply call forth additional special sessions. Those legislators squirrelled away out of state have jobs and families and Abbott can cut off their legislative pay while they're on the lam. How long can they afford their vacations? It eventually brought them home last time and the legislation they opposed was passed. And, of course, Abbott can send the DPS out to fetch legislators hiding at home. It becomes pretty much a repetitive game.

They can also be brought back in cuffs by the Marshalls.

 

[Peacenik]

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest state Democrats if they obstruct the plan to redraw the state's congressional maps. President Donald Trump reportedly said the GOP will attempt to secure five new Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives through redistricting.

Redistricting Texas​

Republicans currently hold an eight-seat majority in the House, with three seats vacant. The president's controversial plan drew immediate pushback from Democrats nationwide.

"We have to be crystal clear about what this is, and the White House and Donald Trump are trying to fix the 2026 election now," John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said on The Bulwark. "In July of the year before the election happens, they're trying to gerrymander a state to an absurd degree to steal seats."

Paxton's actions here are an absolute violation of the law that need to send him to prison for the rest of his life.

MSN

Paxton is slime.

 

[Along Came Jones]

They can also be brought back in cuffs by the Marshalls.

Arrest is always an open threat. DPS or the Texas Rangers would do the arresting, though it seldom happens.

I'm unconvinced Democrats are strongly inclined to bust this special session. I believe they very much want to be part of the Guadalupe Flood investigations and the resulting legislation. Rather than miss out, or suffer the black eye from absconding, they'll likely ignore the urging of their Washington counterparts.

"The national party doesn't make decisions on behalf of Texas Democrats," Kendall Scudder, who in March became leader of the out-of-power party in Texas, said in an interview Wednesday. "Our state legislators and our state senators are the ones that are on the front lines here. When (Texas) Democrats decide what their course of action is going to be, we (the state party) are going to do everything that we can to support them." -- Why a walkout on GOP redistricting could be very risky for Texas Democrats, John C. Moritz, Austin Statesman, 7/18/2025

 

[Peacenik]

Districts are normally only drawn once very ten years after the census.

Republicans are trying to pull a fast one.

Republicans must be worried they are going to lose in 26.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

Arrest is always an open threat. DPS or the Texas Rangers would do the arresting, though it seldom happens.

I'm unconvinced Democrats are strongly inclined to bust this special session. I believe they very much want to be part of the Guadalupe Flood investigations and the resulting legislation. Rather than miss out, or suffer the black eye from absconding, they'll likely ignore the urging of their Washington counterparts.

"The national party doesn't make decisions on behalf of Texas Democrats," Kendall Scudder, who in March became leader of the out-of-power party in Texas, said in an interview Wednesday. "Our state legislators and our state senators are the ones that are on the front lines here. When (Texas) Democrats decide what their course of action is going to be, we (the state party) are going to do everything that we can to support them." -- Why a walkout on GOP redistricting could be very risky for Texas Democrats, John C. Moritz, Austin Statesman, 7/18/2025

Any member of the Texas Rangers that make such an arrest needs to be removed their jobs and be banned from law enforcement for all eternity.

It needs to be made clear to the rangers what happens to their careers if they become Paxton's gestapo.

 

[Binary_Digit]

They should be arrested for breaking which law, exactly?

 

[Along Came Jones]

Any member of the Texas Rangers that make such an arrest needs to be removed their jobs and be banned from law enforcement for all eternity.

It needs to be made clear to the rangers what happens to their careers if they become Paxton's gestapo.

Who is going to remove them for obeying the Governor's lawful orders?

In 2021 Abbott told a reporter,

"Answering your second question, yes, there is something the governor can do. First of all, I'll tell you what the House of Representatives can do. What the speaker can do is issue a call to have these members arrested. In addition to that, however, I can and I will continue to call a special session after special session after special session all the way up until election next year. And so if these people want to be hanging out wherever they're hanging out on this taxpayer-paid junket, they're going to have to be prepared to do it for well over a year. As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done. Everybody who has a job must show up to do that job, just like your viewers on watching right now. State representatives have that same responsibility."

 

[Along Came Jones]

They should be arrested for breaking which law, exactly?

The Texas constitution allows for the House Sergeant at Arms to detain members of the legislature so that they can engage in legislative business. The speaker makes the call to the Governor and he sends out the DPS troopers and Texas Rangers to round 'em up, if they can find them.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

Who is going to remove them for obeying the Governor's lawful orders?

In 2021 Abbott told a reporter,

"Answering your second question, yes, there is something the governor can do. First of all, I'll tell you what the House of Representatives can do. What the speaker can do is issue a call to have these members arrested. In addition to that, however, I can and I will continue to call a special session after special session after special session all the way up until election next year. And so if these people want to be hanging out wherever they're hanging out on this taxpayer-paid junket, they're going to have to be prepared to do it for well over a year. As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested, they will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done. Everybody who has a job must show up to do that job, just like your viewers on watching right now. State representatives have that same responsibility."

That's just the thing. Arresting Democrats for preventing the GQP for redistricting is not lawful. It's a constitutional violation.

Which means if they participate, those rangers are themselves in violation of the law.

 

[Ikari]

Ahhh, MAGA commies, just doing what commies love doing.

 

[Along Came Jones]

That's just the thing. Arresting Democrats for preventing the GQP for redistricting is not lawful. It's a constitutional violation.

Which means if they participate, those rangers are themselves in violation of the law.

If a call for the arrest of hooky playing legislatures were issued, it would be for nonattendance. Per the Texas Constitution, Article 3. Legislative Department, Section 10.

Sec. 10. QUORUM; ADJOURNMENTS FROM DAY TO DAY; COMPELLING ATTENDANCE. Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.

 

[Airyaman]

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest state Democrats if they obstruct the plan to redraw the state's congressional maps. President Donald Trump reportedly said the GOP will attempt to secure five new Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives through redistricting.

Redistricting Texas​

Republicans currently hold an eight-seat majority in the House, with three seats vacant. The president's controversial plan drew immediate pushback from Democrats nationwide.

"We have to be crystal clear about what this is, and the White House and Donald Trump are trying to fix the 2026 election now," John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said on The Bulwark. "In July of the year before the election happens, they're trying to gerrymander a state to an absurd degree to steal seats."

Paxton's actions here are an absolute violation of the law that need to send him to prison for the rest of his life.

MSN

Texas SC approved arrests of legislators who do not show up for work.

Texas Supreme Court allows for arrest of Democrats who don’t show up to Legislature

The Texas Supreme Court voided a lower court ruling that blocked the arrests of the Democrats who don’t show up for the year’s second special legislative session.

www.texastribune.org

 

[reinaert]

Another reason to sell Tejas back to Mexico for a dollar.