Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Threatens to Remove Democratic Lawmakers from Office

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday threatened to remove from office Democratic lawmakers who don’t show up when the House convenes Monday afternoon.

House Democrats Sunday left the state for Illinois in order to prevent the GOP-controlled Legislature from passing a controversial bill that would redraw the state’s congressional boundaries. The new maps would potentially flip five congressional seats from Democratic to Republican.

The Democrats, some of whom are also in Boston and Albany, N.Y., are expected to stay away from the Capitol until the special legislative session called by Abbott ends later this month.

Background of the Conflict

The conflict started when President Donald Trump asked Texas Republicans to change the state’s congressional boundaries. In response, House Democrats decided to leave the state to prevent the passage of the bill.

Abbott gave Democrats a deadline to return to Austin. “This truancy ends now. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025,” Abbott wrote. “For any member who fails to do so, I will invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House.”

President Donald Trump (left) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held hands during a roundtable discussion at the Community Emergency Operations Center on July 11, 2025, in Kerrville. Trump had traveled to Central Texas to survey the aftermath of the deadly flooding there.

Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer

Reaction from Democrats

State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, left Sunday with many of his colleagues to the Chicago area. He said he’s not worried about Abbott’s threat. “As the Texas Supreme Court has acknowledged, it is the right of legislators to deny quorum. And as Governor Abbott should know, we also have separation of powers in this country,” Turner wrote in a text message. “The executive doesn’t get to remove lawmakers just because he doesn’t like how we choose to represent those who elected us.”

One Democrat said Abbott’s threat is a “pathetic pander” to President Donald Trump, who asked Texas Republicans to change the state’s congressional boundaries. “There’s no substance to what he’s doing,” said Democratic strategist Matt Angle, who is supportive of the House Democrats. “It’s an expression of cowardice and submission to Donald Trump.”

The Controversial Bill

House Bill 4, authored by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, would shift five congressional districts to Republicans’ favor, a desire of Trump as he hopes to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections.

During a 15-hour committee meeting Friday, in which lawmakers heard near-universal opposition to the plan, Hunter said the maps were drawn with partisan performance in mind.

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu and other members of the Texas House are joined by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as they speak about Texas Republican plans to redraw the House map during a press conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Black)

Mark Black / AP

Implications of the Bill

Democrats from Austin to Washington have slammed the maps, saying the new districts would discriminate against Black and Latino Texans.

If at least 51 House Democrats refuse to attend the floor session for Monday’s vote, the House can’t gavel in for the day.

Abbott’s actions indicate the redistricting fight will be a bitter struggle. Democrats have broken quorum before, including in 2021 to delay a controversial elections reform bill.

Conclusion

The conflict between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and House Democrats is a complex issue with significant implications for the state’s congressional boundaries. The controversial bill has sparked widespread opposition, and the Democrats’ decision to leave the state has escalated the situation. As the special legislative session continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what the ultimate outcome will be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the controversy about?

The controversy is about a bill that would redraw the state’s congressional boundaries, potentially flipping five congressional seats from Democratic to Republican.

Q: Why did the House Democrats leave the state?

The House Democrats left the state to prevent the passage of the bill, which they believe would discriminate against Black and Latino Texans.

Q: What did Gov. Greg Abbott say about the situation?