Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a scathing rebuke Monday morning to Democrat lawmakers who fled the Lone Star State in a desperate effort to derail the GOP-led redistricting process. The Republican governor is now threatening felony charges, forced removal from office, and even extradition if the Democrats don’t return to fulfill their constitutional duties.

The political stunt unfolded Sunday when more than two dozen Democrat legislators flew to Chicago in an attempt to deny quorum in the Texas House and block redistricting legislation that could net Republicans as many as five additional House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.

“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 declared. “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.”

Abbott didn't stop there. He warned that any Democrat who accepted financial gifts to avoid fines from their absence may be subject to criminal prosecution under Texas bribery laws.

“I think they face a possibility of facing bribery charges, which is a second-degree felony in Texas,” Abbott said, adding, “The same could be true for any other person who ‘offers, confers, or agrees to confer’ such funds to fleeing Democrat House members. I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons.”

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As Abbott laid down the law, the Texas House Democratic Caucus fired off a defiant response, posting: “Come and take it.”

Their defiance is centered on the Republican redistricting proposal, which Democrats baselessly attacked as a “racist mid-decade redistricting scheme” — despite being crafted through legal and transparent legislative processes.

Abbott, however, showed zero tolerance for the Democrat maneuver, slamming their conduct as cowardly and un-American.

“Real Texans don’t flee from a battle,” Abbott said. “Rather than doing their job and voting on urgent legislation affecting the lives of all Texans, they have fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum necessary to meet and conduct business.”

Under Texas House rules, at least 100 of the chamber’s 150 members must be present for a quorum. Roughly 50 Democrats have absconded in a coordinated walkout to sabotage the legislative session.

Abbott made it clear that being an elected lawmaker is “not optional” and accused the Democrats of dereliction of duty.

The governor also invoked Article III, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution, which allows for the removal of legislators who abandon their posts — and empowers the governor to promptly appoint replacements.

“A legislator determined to have forfeited his or her office due to abandonment can be removed from office… thereby creating a vacancy, which the governor can swiftly fill,” Abbott stated.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch constitutionalist and ally of President Donald Trump, has echoed Abbott’s tough stance. He affirmed that the rogue lawmakers “should be found and arrested no matter where they go.”

This isn’t just about politics — it’s about upholding the rule of law. Abbott also reminded the public that Democrats soliciting donations to avoid legislative fines could be walking into felony territory.

“Soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules” may violate Texas criminal statutes, Abbott warned.

As the House reconvenes Monday afternoon, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown between a governor determined to restore law and order — and leftist lawmakers determined to run from it.