Texas has filed a request in an Illinois court to enforce arrest warrants for state House Democrats who left Austin to block a redistricting vote. The lawmakers are staying in Illinois to deny Republicans the quorum needed to advance the measure during a special legislative session.
The filing in Adams County’s Eighth Judicial Circuit Court lists the Texas House as the petitioner and the absent Democratic members as respondents. It cites a vote by the Texas House authorizing the sergeant-at-arms to bring in lawmakers with unexcused absences, using warrants if necessary.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued civil warrants for members who left the state, accusing them of deliberately breaking quorum. Texas is asking the Illinois court to recognize the warrants under the “full faith and credit” clause and direct local law enforcement to detain the Democrats, coordinate with Texas officials, and return them to Austin.
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is campaigning for the U.S. Senate, called the absent members “rogue legislators” and vowed to use “every legal remedy” to hold them accountable. Burrows said the lawmakers had ample time to return voluntarily but refused, leaving the state with “no choice” but to seek enforcement from other jurisdictions.
The standoff has become part of a larger political clash, with Texas Republicans pushing to secure eight additional GOP seats through redistricting and Democrats accusing the effort of undermining democracy.
