Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called on the Texas Rangers to investigate the group of State House Democrats who fled the state, saying that they may be in violation of state bribery laws based on reports showing that the lawmakers may have received funds in exchange for breaking quorum.
For background, on August 4, 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate a large contingent of quorum-breaking Democrats who fled their state in protest of the Texas GOP’s proposed redistricting plan. According to Gov. Abbott, the Democrats may have violated the Texas Penal Code, specifically Section 36.02, opening up the door for their potential expulsion from office.
In his press release, Gov. Abbott announced that he had ordered the Texas Rangers to “immediately investigate fleeing Texas House Democrats for potential bribery and any other potential legal violations connected to their refusal to appear for a quorum, conduct business, and cast votes.” The governor explained further, “That investigation should extend to anyone who aided or abetted such potential crimes.”
Additionally, the office of the governor confirmed that reports indicated that “many” of the Texas House Democrats who fled the state “have solicited or received funds to evade conducting legislative business and casting votes.” The governor’s office explained that any other individual who “offers, provides, or agrees to provide such funds to fleeing Democrat House members” may be subject to bribery charges as well.”
Furthermore, on August 7, 2025, press accounts confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had agreed to help with locating the group of quorum-breaking Democrats at the behest of Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R). The senator previously told the FBI in a letter that the lawmakers “have committed potential criminal acts in their rush to avoid their constitutional responsibilities and must be fully investigated and held accountable.”
Moreover, Sen. Cornyn later said that FBI Director Kash Patel had “approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” adding, “I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas.”
On the other hand, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has come alongside a group of Texas Democrats who fled to her state, going so far as to declare “war” on President Trump and declare at a press conference, “All’s fair in love and war. That’s why I’m exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible.”
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Moreover, Gov. Hochul explicitly called the redistricting push by the Texas GOP “a war,” adding, “We are at war. That’s why the gloves are off, and I say, bring it on.” Responding to Gov. Hochul’s inflammatory comments, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TX) said on social media that Democrats “are leading New Yorkers into peril by pushing for political ‘war.’”
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