Texas House misses quorum again Friday, redistricting still stalled

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Texas House failed to meet quorum again on Friday, with only 95 lawmakers present. Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbot told lawmakers to return to the Capitol on Monday.

After the Texas House failed to make a quorum on Tuesday, Abbot told Texas Democrats to return to Austin by Friday or face consequences.

The Democratic lawmakers spent the week in Illinois, New York and Massachusetts. On Friday, House members are expected to meet with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in California.

More than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers walked out of the Capitol on Sunday. They left the state on Sunday in an effort to block a redistricting vote.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has since suspended direct deposits for lawmakers who left the state, intensifying pressure to restore quorum during the special session.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a sharp warning to House Democrats who left the state to block a GOP-backed redistricting bill. “The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines,” Paxston said. “If you don’t show up to work, you get fired.”

Paxton also announced an investigation into the Texas Majority Project PAC, a group founded by former Beto O’Rourke staffers and reportedly funded by George Soros. Paxton alleges the group may have illegally supported Democratic lawmakers who fled the state. That announcement came just a day after he launched a separate probe into Powered by People, another PAC tied to O’Rourke.

Meanwhile, Abbott on Monday ordered the civil arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled the state. By Wednesday, Sen. John Cornyn said FBI Director Kash Patel had responded to his request for federal help locating the lawmakers and investigating any possible legal violations.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows said that if a civil arrest occurs over the weekend, lawmakers will have six hours to return to the Capitol once notified.