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Lots of the Texas Democrats who fled the Lone Star State to Democrat-stronghold states amid a Republican redistricting effort are complying with the political stunt out of worry of being primaried by “somebody even crazier” throughout the celebration, Republican Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain advised Fox Information Digital in a Thursday interview.
“In the event that they have been to come back again, they’d lose in a main to somebody much more socialistic than they’re,” Cain advised Fox Information Digital in a Thursday Zoom interview. “So yeah, they’re truly there out of worry, not out of worry of the Republican laws, however out of worry of their very own folks. And they also’ll proceed to sit down out of state at their very own detriment, all due to the worry of being primaried by somebody even crazier than they’re.”
“I can inform you that a lot of them do not need to be there. They know that finally they are going to lose, however as a result of their celebration’s run by a bunch of crazies, they need to be there,” he continued of the Democrats who left the state forward of Monday.
Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas for liberal bastions comparable to Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to forestall a quorum for a particular session as state lawmakers ready to vote on a redrawn congressional map for the state forward of the 2026 midterms.
State lawmakers have reported they plan to be absent from the state till the tip of August, when the particular session ends.
ABBOTT, PAXTON LAUNCH LEGAL BLITZ ON FLEEING DEMOCRATS IN REDISTRICTING SHOWDOWN
Texas Democrats stood subsequent to Illinois lawmakers on Aug. 4, 2025 to oppose redistricting measures proposed by Texas Republicans. (Fox Information)
Texas legislation requires at the very least two-thirds of lawmakers in both chamber be current to proceed with legislative issues, with the Democrat minority celebration presently holding 62 seats within the Texas home to the GOP’s 88.
The Texas Home has been at a standstill for the reason that Democrats fled over the weekend. Six Democrats are within the Austin space this week, Cain defined, which means six extra Democrats are required earlier than the physique can attain a quorum.
Cain mentioned that he heard three further Democrats are within the Houston space and certain “taunting” Republicans to doubtlessly arrest them over their absence.
“They’re older members, and so they’re type of taunting us to arrest them with the concept ‘who would arrest grandma?’ It is type of a intelligent play by the Democrats,” he mentioned.
Texas Speaker of the Home Dustin Burrows signed arrest warrants for the absent Democrats on Monday, following the state Home approving of such warrants and Gov. Greg Abbott calling on the Texas Division of Public Security to arrest the “delinquent Texas Home Democrats.” The arrest warrants are largely seen as symbolic as they solely apply to these inside state traces.
TEXAS RESIDENTS SAY ‘THERE SHOULD BE CONSEQUENCES’ FOR DEMS FLEEING STATE TO AVOID VOTE
Texas Home Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks to reporters on Aug. 3, 2025 as Democrats fled Texas to forestall a quorum. (Scott Olson/Getty Photos)
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) reported Thursday that the FBI agreed to his request to assist help in finding the whereabouts of the derelict lawmakers as Republicans work to succeed in a quorum upon the Democrats’ returns.
“I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly appearing on my name for the federal authorities to carry these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas,” Cornyn mentioned in a Thursday information launch. “We can not enable these rogue legislators to keep away from their constitutional duties.”
Cain advised Fox Digital that Republicans are doing “all the things in our energy” after Democrats fled the state, together with launching investigations into potential bribery. Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton introduced an investigation Wednesday into former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke’s nonprofit, Powered by Individuals, over claims it was serving to fund the Democratic exodus from the state, which he described as a political bribe.
“They’re being investigated for potential bribery,” Cain advised Fox Digital. “And the Legal professional Normal has launched an investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s group for bribery as properly. I will inform you, below the Texas Penal Code, providing or accepting or knowingly doing … a profit to an elected official in change for his or her vote or some type of discretionary motion, like exhibiting as much as work, is taken into account bribery right here in Texas. And it type of appears to be like like that and we have to launch an investigation.”
In response to the investigation, O’Rourke described Republicans in Texas as “thugs” who’re trying to “steal our nation” and accused Paxton of bribery himself.
TEXAS DEMS ALSO SKIPPED TOWN IN 2021 TO AVOID A VOTE, AND SEVERAL CAUGHT COVID-19 IN DC
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has slammed lawmakers who fled the state as “delinquent Texas Home Democrats.” (Brandon Bell/Getty Photos)
Democratic governors, comparable to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have since opened their proverbial doorways to the Texas Democrats who fled the Lone Star State.
Cain remarked the irony shouldn’t be misplaced on him that the Democrats fled to states which have lengthy histories embracing gerrymandered voting traces.
“The irony of this complete walkout, after all, they go to states which are among the worst gerrymandered states that we have seen.
“We’re now with the ability to expose and present the world the maps of those hypocrites. They usually additionally name themselves courageous. However as to cite Governor Greg Abbott, they’re very un-Texan, Texans do not run from a combat,” he continued.
TEXAS DEMOCRATS FLEE STATE TO BLOCK TRUMP-BACKED REDISTRICTING VOTE IN DRAMATIC LEGISLATIVE MOVE
Texas lawmakers have used quorum breaking as a political technique going again to 1870, and final unfolded in 2021, when Democratic state lawmakers fled to Washington, D.C., out of an try to dam the passage of voting and election integrity laws, in addition to the 2004 walk-out additionally over redistricting.
Cain mentioned historical past reveals such stunts haven’t confirmed fruitful for Democrats.
“Democrats misplaced seats each time they got here again – could be a touch that the voters do not recognize these issues. We additionally nonetheless handed the laws. So it is actually a pricey, futile transfer whereby it is simply pure theater, an opportunity to go and fundraise, however actually they don’t seem to be standing up for democracy in any respect. Somewhat, they’re simply being pure obstructionists and obstructing the need of the those that have elected them,” he mentioned.
President Donald Trump has inspired redistricting in Texas, together with remarking on Tuesday that efforts to redistrict in Texas might result in the GOP choosing up 5 seats.
“In California, it’s all gerrymandered,” Trump mentioned throughout an interview with CNBC Tuesday. “And we’ve got a possibility in Texas to select up 5 seats. We’ve a very good governor, and we’ve got good folks in Texas. And I received Texas. I acquired the best vote within the historical past of Texas, as you most likely know, and we’re entitled to 5 extra seats.”
For Cain, redistricting in Texas is required as its demographics have shifted since 2020, when the state final redrew its voting maps.
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“Over the previous few years, Texas has drastically modified, our inhabitants has tremendously modified, not simply from the open border insurance policies of Joe Biden, but additionally due to our nice financial circumstances which have brought on folks to flee California and Illinois and Boston to come back and need to dwell right here. With a view to mirror that inhabitants change, we have to replace our map,” he mentioned.
Fox Information Digital’s Diana Stancy and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
