Texas Democrats Who Fled Vote on Election Reform Face Arrest

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Democrats who fled the state to avoid voting on an election reform bill will be arrested upon their return. 

Democratic members of the state House of Representatives left Texas to avoid being called to vote Monday on the election legislation. Under state law, two-thirds of House members are required for a quorum that allows votes. 

“Once they step back into the state, they will be arrested and brought back to the Capitol and we will be conducting business,” Abbott said of the Democrats in an interview Monday night with Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham. 

Texas House rules say that the House sergeant-at-arms, or someone designated by that officer, may arrest absent lawmakers and return them to the House floor. That applies only inside Texas, which is why the Democrats left the state.