January 1, Abbott Lays Down Law For Texas Democrats

Wyatt’s Take

• Texas leadership is standing strong, not letting lawmakers ditch their duty
• Governor Abbott issues tough warnings against Democrats stalling votes
• Concerns rise over outside money and possible felony charges

Texas politics just turned up the heat. More than 50 Democrat lawmakers packed their bags and ran off to Chicago. Their goal? Break quorum and stop a Republican plan to redraw district lines that would help keep conservative voices strong in Texas.

Governor Abbott didn’t waste time responding. He delivered a clear message: show up for Monday’s vote, or you could lose your seat in the House.

“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’s statement means if you up and abandon your post, Texas law could show you the door.

If these seats open up, Abbott promises to fill them quick, within 20 days—or call for a special election if needed. The Governor isn’t about to let lawmakers throw a wrench in the works without facing some serious consequences.

But losing their jobs isn’t the only risk. Abbott warned that any Democrat taking money to pay for the $500-a-day fines for skipping out could face felony charges for bribery. There’s chatter that out-of-state donors and backers are ready to cover whatever costs come from breaking quorum. Abbott called it what it is—trying to “assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote.” That’s a big deal in Texas law.

He finished his statement flat-out: “I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons.” In other words, you can run but you can’t hide.

This fight isn’t just about seats or fines. It’s about who controls Texas and whether lawmakers can bail on their jobs without consequence. Attorney General Ken Paxton got in on the action too. He’s been calling for arrests if lawmakers run from their responsibilities, saying they “should face the full force of the law without apology.”

Texas has always been about hard work, sticking to your word, and doing what’s right by the people. When leaders take drastic action to skip out on votes, it’s Middle America that’s left in the lurch while special interests cheer from the sidelines.

Wyatt Matters

Real Texans know you don’t walk out when the job gets tough. Middle America needs folks in office who stand their ground, not those who flee to avoid doing what’s right. When rules are broken and values tossed aside for political games, it’s our families and our faith that get caught in the crossfire. We need leaders holding the line for common sense, not running away when it matters most.

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