Texas Republicans Scramble to Punish Quorum-Breaking Democrats

With Texas Democrats using the most powerful tool available to the minority party – a quorum break – Republicans are furious they don’t have enough members present to hold a vote on their gerrymandered map that could add five more GOP seats in Congress in 2026. 

Texas Republicans – most notably, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn – are now scrambling to tell their base they’re mobilizing all resources to punish Democrats who left the state. Cornyn revealed Wednesday that FBI Director Kash Patel responded to his request for federal assistance in locating Democrats. But that’s just the latest of Republicans’ escalating attempts to crack down on Democrats fighting the redistricting scheme.

In his request, Cornyn accused Democrats of possible bribery and public corruption for soliciting funds to support their quorum break. Cornyn urged the FBI to help Texas law enforcement pursue the lawmakers across state lines.

“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn said in a statement Thursday. “I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas.”

Cornyn did not release any documentation or details about what, if anything, the FBI intends to do. A press release from his office did not include a comment from Patel. It’s unclear why Texas Republicans would need help locating Democrats in Chicago, as they have held multiple public appearances and even received a bomb threat at their hotel.

Abbott had little information to share, either, while making a TV appearance Thursday.

“It’s my understanding that the FBI is going to search for these derelict Texas House members in whatever state they may be in, and help identify them and maybe work with us to bring them back,” Abbott said.

After a group of Texas House Democrats left the state for Illinois Sunday, the House quickly issued civil arrest warrants to bring quorum breakers back to the Capitol. But Republicans admitted the warrants would be unenforceable as long as Democrats remain in ally states like Illinois, where Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has vowed to protect them. 

Abbott announced Monday he directed Texas Rangers to investigate Democrats, raising the possibility that they could face bribery charges for fundraising to help cover the costs of an expensive quorum break.

“Under the Texas Penal Code, any of those Democrats who solicit, accept, or agree to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws,” Abbott’s office argued. “Also, it could be a bribery violation for any other person who offers, provides, or agrees to provide such funds to fleeing Democrat House members.”

Paxton then publicized his own investigation into former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D), accusing him of “operating an illegal financial influence scheme to bribe runaway Democrats who fled Texas to break quorum.”

Abbott and Paxton both threatened to remove Democrats from office for leaving the state – but Abbott beat Paxton to it, filing a petition directly with the Texas Supreme Court. In an unusual move, Paxton’s office sent a letter to the court disputing Abbott’s authority, which Abbott’s office responded to with their own letter insisting he has the power to ask the court to remove them. Paxton said he plans to take his own legal actions if Democrats don’t return by Friday.

Cornyn – currently fighting off a serious primary challenge from Paxton – then managed to secure his own headline, announcing the FBI granted his request to assist.

Paxton, for his part, dismissed Cornyn’s efforts to involve the FBI.

“This is a state issue. I don’t know what the FBI would have to do with this – nothing,” Paxton said Tuesday in a livestream appearance. 

Paxton also warned he’s considering attempting to enforce the arrest warrants.

“You will see some action that we will attempt to make those arrests. If that doesn’t work, we’re also going to give them until Friday,” Paxton said.

But State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D), who is participating in the quorum break in Illinois, said he’s not intimidated by the threats, particularly knowing Pritzker “gives a damn” and will prioritize their safety. 

He said there’s obvious political motivation behind Cornyn’s push to bring in the FBI.

“Just like Greg Abbott’s pretty desperate in his effort to please Donald Trump, it looks like John Cornyn is joining that desperado caucus as he sees his primary in front of him with Ken Paxton,” Martinez Fischer said. “Doesn’t want to be left in the back seat.” 

If Republicans send law enforcement to arrest Democrats in Illinois, Martinez Fischer has some idea of what to expect. He and other House Democrats fled the state in 2003 to block a mid-decade redistricting effort orchestrated by former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay (R).

“Tom DeLay had the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and Homeland Security track the tail numbers of the plane that we used to get some members out of the state,” Martinez Fischer said.  

He and his colleagues made it out of the state and stayed at a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

“Not only did we have the protection of the local sheriff, who provided deputies to guard us and to be able to turn away any DPS (Texas Department of Public Safety) officers, members of the House, including myself, we all signed up for shifts to sit up at night and be a lookout to make sure that we didn’t see anything happening while other members slept,” Martinez Fischer said of 2003. “I mean, it was a scary moment.” 

Democrats were concerned they would be handcuffed and driven back to Texas, Martinez Fischer said. 

“I remember vividly that there was an unmarked car driving in our parking lot, you know, looking for the buses that brought us,” Martinez Fischer said. 

The movie they watched on the bus? “Catch Me If You Can.”