Summary
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has warned Democratic lawmakers with potential bribery charges for leaving the state to stop a vote on a Republican-supported redistricting plan. The absence of the Democrats prevents a vote since at least two-thirds of the legislature must be present. The governor has asked the Democrats to return by a set deadline, while some Democratic leaders plan to stay out of Texas for two weeks.
Key Facts
- Governor Abbott threatened bribery charges against Democrats who left Texas to block a vote.
- For the vote to proceed, two-thirds of the 150-member Texas legislature must be present.
- The proposed redistricting plan would increase the number of Republican seats.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to arrest the absent Democrats.
- The Democrats left Texas for Illinois, where the governor promised to protect them.
- The US House currently has 219 Republican and 212 Democratic seats.
- Redistricting typically happens every 10 years following the US Census.
- Changes in district lines, like the proposed ones in Texas, could affect party control in Congress.
