Texas Attorney General Calls for Immediate Arrest of Democrats Who Fled to Block GOP Redistricting Vote

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has expressed support for the swift detention of Democratic legislators who absconded from the state to prevent a vote on a Republican-led redistricting proposal. On Sunday, over 51 Texas Democrats traveled to Chicago, intentionally missing a scheduled legislative session in Texas that was set to approve a new congressional map favoring GOP candidates. The mass departure was reportedly coordinated with the assistance of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who has offered logistical support to the lawmakers, some of whom plan to stay through the week. Paxton has publicly called for the immediate arrest of the Democratic lawmakers to facilitate the passage of the redistricting plan. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, "Democrats attempting to flee like cowards should be located, detained, and brought back to the Capitol without delay. Every legal tool should be employed to hold those who believe they are above the law accountable." This stance follows Paxton's remarks on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, where he acknowledged the legal complexities involved in arresting out-of-state legislators, noting that jurisdiction issues pose challenges...