Illinois has long been a sanctuary state, but this is getting ridiculous. Yesterday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) pledged to protect dozens of Texas lawmakers fleeing their state to shut down the legislature. It is all an effort to prevent redistricting in the state. However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is pledging to arrest them and expel them from office. Both seem “all in” in this game for Texas Hold’Em.
At least 100 members of the 150-member Texas House must be present to conduct business, and approximately 50 of the Democrats have left. Abbott said their commitment to voting as elected state officials is a duty and is “not optional.”
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to arrest and expel the Texas House Democrats who fled the state to avoid a redistricting vote if they do not return by Monday afternoon.
Dozens of Texas’ Democratic state representatives arrived in Chicago Sunday night to stall the vote. Shortly after Abbott released his statement, the Texas House Democratic Caucus issued a simple response, writing: “Come and take it.”
The statement also described Republicans’ proposed districts, which would potentially secure five new GOP U.S. House seats in next year’s midterm elections, as a “racist mid-decade redistricting scheme.”
Abbott criticized the Democrats’ dramatic departure, starting his call for them to return with, “real Texans don’t run from a fight.”
The lawmakers have been ordered to return to the Texas State Capitol by 3 p.m. on Monday to vote in the special session, or they will face removal from office.
When the Governor calls a Special Session, the Texas Constitution provides that the “Legislature shall meet.” TEX. CONST. art. III, § 5. The governor is arguing that this is a mandatory duty for legislators. This is where it gets sporty. The Texas Attorney General has issued Opinion No. KP-0382 on the removal of missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House. The Attorney General Ken Paxton maintains that “whether a specific legislator abandoned his or her office such that a vacancy occurred will be a fact question for a court.”
Accordingly he may file a “quo warranto” action, literally an action to determine “by what authority?” does a person still claim office. Under this procedure, Paxton would seek a judicial declaration that these members have abandoned their offices.
In the meantime, the Democrats have responded with their own chest pounding with Pritzker (who hopes to run for the presidency in 2028) declaring that he will protect the fugitive members. He declared this a “righteous act’ by legislators to stop the political process.
This is not the first time that this maneuver has been used. In 2011, Democratic state senators from Wisconsin fled to Illinois to block a vote on removing union rights for public workers. Texas democrats have used this tactic in the past in 1979, 2003, and 2021. It was not successful in prior years in the long run.
Not to be outdone, Abbott is warning that lawmakers accepting assistance or “soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules” could be charged with bribery under state law. He can also order additional special sessions until the Democrats return.
As the standoff escalates, these novel legal questions may be heading to court. The effort to declare members as abandoned will take time and time is short when it comes to redistricting, which is often subject to years of challenges. Democrats are clearly hoping that running out of the state will allow them to run out the clock. They may be right. What may be more likely to succeed is the imposition of massive fines on the legislators.
I have long been a critic of gerrymandering by both parties. However, it remains a part of our political process.
None of this is good for democracy. The self-professed champions of democracy are fleeing to avoid a democratic vote by the duly elected representatives of the public. While it is common for legislators to leave hearings and floor votes to deny quorums, members ordinarily yield to the mandatory votes of the body. Fleeing the state to scuttle the democratic process hardly makes you the modern personification of Publius Publicola.
The problem is that our federal and state constitutional systems are based on Madisonian principles designed to force deliberation and, at times, compromise. Obviously, if one party has the votes, compromise is often not an option. However, the system works by having all factions involved in the legislative process.
Democrats insist that the redistricting will violate the rights of minority voters. Democrat Caucus Chair Gene Wu (D-Houston) said the governor is “using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, all to execute a corrupt political deal.” However, that is a determination that is made ultimately in the courts. This action is preventing such review of the districts. If it does not violate the state or federal constitution, this action becomes less credible as motivated by constitutional as opposed to political interests.
Sitting in a stronghold of the opposing party hundreds of miles away undermines faith in the political system. It also leaves the impression of a stronger affiliation with national political groups than local constituencies. Seeking sanctuary in Illinois raises the question of who you are being protected from in refusing to allow democratic votes in your state.
(OT)
Note to corporate marketing departments:
Dylan Mulvaney represents your product. Your sales immediately drop 17%. (And your brand is still tarnished.)
Sydney Sweeney represents your product. Your stock price immediately jumps 28%. (And you enjoy nonstop, worldwide free advertising.)
Sam
These are highly trained marketing executives that make millions of dollars in salary, you’re going to confuse them with actual sales and market results.
Tits-and-ass always sell. Always. So how could those so called “highly trained” execs go wrong selling Sweeney’s physical endowments.
Don’t’ take a Brainiac to figure that out.
One of those executives hired a guy, to dress up like a girl to promote and sell beer. That highly trained marketing executive cost the company millions in losses in beer sales. That highly trained marketing executive got fired.
The other executives hired a very attractive young women to promote and sell their jeans. Despite woke leftist failed backlash, the companies stock is up and sales are reportedly are doing well.
What dirty old man you are. Your eyes are stuck on her boobs huh?
Franks and Beans for you my friend, next to the burn ointment on aisle 9, Section 8.
Well, it’s not we didn’t know this.
UN report. 84% of the food sent to Gaza is stolen.
Where are the blue helmets?
Rabble:
Behind the counter, making money off the trade, of course!
Isn’t great to be a democrat. I can be what I want, anytime I want, anywhere I want. They’re only consistency is that they are always full of crap.
They offer no ideas or concrete solutions. If they pass any law, then it is spend money.
It appears that they not only love open borders, but they have embraced the criminal thugs over the citizens of this nation. They lost the blue collar and middle class. They embrace anarchy as well.
Leaderless and lost.
I read nowhere in the Constitution that’s state cannot re- district any time it wants. But one CANNOT re-distroct based on one’s skin color to guarantee anyone of any color x number of seats, any statutes saying that must be done to the contrary. And I challenge anyone to tell me where in the 13th 14th and 15th amendment the color of ones skin is mentioned.
Fifteenth Amendment
Section 1
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude–
Section 2
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
MAGAs are dumb shits.
Drawing a strange branching structure around persons based on race is called gerrymandering. It’s also really racist and segregationist. Drawing boundaries around existing political and geographic boundaries is not denying or abridging the rights of those citizens to vote.
It’s always funny how Democrats vocally support red-lining while giving lip-service to equality.
It’s a little bit funny that Texas Democrats are protesting gerrymandering in Texas by hiding out in Illinois. That state has gerrymandered their congressional map to favor Democrats.
“The backstory: In 2021, when Democrats worried the House might slip from their grasp, Illinois Democrats approached redistricting with surgical precision — eliminating two Republican congressional seats and reinforcing their own fortress in D.C.”
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2025/07/24/pritzkers-gerrymander-jab-draws-fire-00473441
OOPS
It will be very difficult to declare that Democrats abandoned their office. It’s not a regular session and when the session expires they would technically be out of session.
Abbott can’t do much despite his loud threats. What the Democrats did is not illegal. Abbott’s threats of removal are long shots because it will take the courts a very long time to determine if he’s even able to do that.
The singular American failure is the judicial branch, with emphasis on the Supreme Court.
Best news of the day! AG Bondi issued order to convene a Grand Jury for the Obama/Russiagate conspiracy. It’s on now boys and girls and we’re all privy to much of the evidence. Let’s see who plays let’s make a deal first!
And I read that the grand jury is going to be impaneled in Miami, FL.
Awesome
Dare I hope for justice or will it be another “they are above the law “. Remember what they did to the J6 peaceful protestors. People that were ushered into the People s House. The many non-violent people still were persecuted, bankrupted and imprisoned in a gulag. It now turns out they were well within their rights to protest against the results of the 2020 election. If HRC/Obama Russia gate doesn’t equate to election interference with the collusion fraud and the suppression of Hunters laptop, nothing ever will.
This hissy fitting from the cry babies who purposefully opened our borders, orchestrating an insane and illegal mass invasion in order to manipulate and control the voting roles in this country forever? Well, eff them and the horses they rode out on!
Women have lowered the U.S. fertility rate to a suicidal 1.599 BPW.
More Americans die than are born in this “birthrate death spiral.”
Anti-American forces have compelled illegal immigration, aka “American Population Replacement Program,” to compensate for the loss of workers and consumers.
Women don’t need to vote, women need to make babies.
I fear it is too late.
The Vaxx works at what it was intended for.
Illinois is one of the largest Deficit Blackholes in the Union.
Why would Anyone want to be associated with it, yet alone run for office (Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) Election 2028) with that shackled to around your neck.
This is a big part of the Democratic Party’s problem, the huge-debts and upside-down States and the Cities they come from. They all want to runaway, especially California Gov. Gavin Newsom, but only one will be able to be the Candidate for President in 2028. Guess what, America doesn’t want to go down that road. The People are under enough servitude of; Taxes, Inflation, and just trying to keep what they have.
So if the Big City Texas Democrats want to hold-up in Illinois, let Em. It’s not going to get any better when they come home to roost.
It’s their problem, They own it.
How ’bout a debate?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lrh3ybtArGc
The whopping lie behind huge, new pension liability imposed by Springfield on Chicago – Wirepoints
Which is worse, financial malfeasance or a flagrant lie to justify it? Take your pick. Both are nothing short of astonishing when it comes to Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature Friday on a bill hiking benefits for two of Chicago’s pensions that already had been bled nearly dry.
By: Mark Glennon – Wirepoints ~ August 4, 2025
https://wirepoints.org/the-whopping-lie-behind-huge-new-pension-liability-imposed-by-springfield-on-chicago-wirepoints/
I am perfectly fine with Abbott following through. This, ‘We’ll just leave to avoid you being able to vote.’, boosheet is getting old. It’s dereliction of duty, and it makes them look even more pathetic than they did when they were just screeching. I am fine with them forfeiting their seats and being replaced due to their inability to behave like mature adults. A private company would have likely fired them already.
And they can gaslight us all they want: we know as well as they what is on the line. Our modern dems very obviously can no longer win on their ideas. That is their problem, and they work for *US*. All of us, whether they agree with us or not. This is a foreign concept to most of the modern left.
I say: let the hammer drop.
Honestly — these so-called adults act more like run-away children.
It’s sad that elected officials, supposedly serving the people, behave in such a ridiculous manner.
Since this is a repeat, you’d think the Governor would lock them in during special sessions that have redistricting on the menu. I mean, of course they fled. When they did this in 2003, Gov. Perry sent Texas Rangers to Okla. to fetch ’em but could only persuade one to return (which enabled the quorum to be met). The threats this time to prosecute them better not be fake or they will continue to do it more and more.
Texas ought to be big enough for anyone to hide. The indigenous people had some kind of redoubt in a steep canyon, sort of like John Galt. I would go there with a Starlink and a case of tequila.
Creekan…………….Palo Duro Canyon
Why don’t we start with getting the facts correct instead of putting the MAGA twist on what’s really going on? Abbott was ORDERED by Trump to try to gerrymander Texas to create 5 seats that favor Republicans–and this is NOT based on new census data, changing demographics or anything other than Trump’s fear of losing control of the House–a valid fear based on polling and Trump’s utter incompetence. THAT’s the reason why Democrats are leaving–to prevent a quorum which will prevent Texas Republicans from trying to gerrymander away the voices of Democratic voters. AND, California and New York, both reliably blue states, have threatened to do the same thing if Texas gets away with this.
GIGI GIGI GIGI MAGA MAGA MAGA You’re freaking boring, nobody cares, move along please.
Abbott is the head of the state, Trump has no authority to “order” him to do anything dealing with state law. So you’re all wet right from the start.
Second, this is part of a broader redistricting battle that goes on all the time, and has for 40 years. Texas redistricting is not some new phenomenon. It is one battle in a very long redistricting war. So you’re all wet in suggesting Trump or Abbott are breaking any new ground here.
Third, while it would be best if no state engaged in partisan gerrymandering, the fact is that Dems and the GOP both do it in the states where they dominate. Think Maryland and Illinois as examples of Dem partisan gerrymandering. So spare us the sanctimony about “gerrymandering away the voices of Democratic voters.” This is something both sides do with about equal frequency, and the most common outcome on a national scale is that the two parties fight to a draw.
Correct, OldMan. However, Trump could had given Abbott the idea to go and have the fled demwits arrested and bring them back to Texas to hold the quorum.
You have yet to get the facts right yet. Presidents can’t.order governors to do redistricting, thats not how it works. New York, Illinois and California are already gerrymandered to the point it’s an idle threat. Look at a district map of those states. Really how can you think anyone can take you seriously?
Trump can. Abbott initially was reluctant to even consider it. Until Trump called him.
Well, it’s a political exercise. So, one should not be surprised Trump was involved on some level. It’s been going on for years by both parties. BTW, who tried to change the census data by illegally allowing open borders? That said, how about that Grand Jury news? You’ve got to like that!
Do you have any evidence of that, demwit? Or did you simply pull that idiotic nonsense out of that place where the sun don’t shine and put it in your mouth in order to spew it all over this place? 😊
So it’s bad if the Reps do what the dems have been doing for over 100 years.
#Laughable. I live in IL – 03 and not one rep (state or congressional) represents me. The Illinois map is laughable and it’s amazing that any Illinois Democrat would have the audacity to challenge Texas’ remapping when IL Dems are completely responsible for the exact same thing. I can’t stand the hypocrisy. Set geographic zones by acreage and stick to them without opportunity for change.
But the Left will still complain and say that the land can’t vote. 🙃 But your idea is a good one, IMO. 👍
Far better, imho, to stay in the legislative chamber, rise, and cast one’s vote after making a speech decrying the actions of the other side. Running to PritzkerLand is running away from one’s responsibilities. At least a “no” vote in Austin demonstrates loyalty to one’s constituents of one’s party.
That being said, I hope Abbott and the legislative members of his party assess extremely stiff fines – and use the proceeds to pay for something of benefit to the good folk of Texas.
“I hope Abbott and the legislative members of his party assess extremely stiff fines – and use the proceeds to pay for something of benefit to the good folk of Texas.”
Funding the campaigns of candidates opposing these sleazy cowards would seem to be a worthy cause…
“I fart in your general direction, your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries….now go away or I shall taunt you the second time.”
[stage left: Democrats flee to Texas]
💨
*. Longitude and latitude used to create districts, very simple. Simple majority creates a quorum , simple. Yes , they’ve abandoned their offices. It’s a duty.
There’s too many laws. Cut back to basics. Cut the government representatives back, as well. It’s become nonsensical.
Multiculturalism is a loser. A note. People immigrate to the US to become American. They don’t immigrate expecting to change the American culture. When did the American culture go up for grabs? The immigrants had ill intention and immigrated for jobs and not the culture. The political system v. Economic system was at stake.
Incredible BS. It’s Epstein and fingers crossed DJT is a pedo, now some rat faced gene girl Babylon Bee joke becomes scandal. What diversion next?
Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. It’s about how you play the game. Look at my butt so I can file a lawsuit ain’t it.
Thanks PT, you censor. I’ll be sure to balance what I say with half truths and lies. The dems have some points but they don’t know what they are.
“When did the American culture go up for grabs ?” Obviously you OP is the one that has the head stuck in the sand. Go to SoCal (Garden Grove and Westminster) and Michigan (Dearborn and Hamtramck). These enclaves are where American culture is down the drain. People converse in their native language (in some radio station, ppl complain their so-called “cultural challenges” when traveling outside of the enclave) and ignore the American culture.
Your remarks are all over the place and create a perception that you are trying to be cute, instead of factual. You can do better. By the way saying DJT is a pedo and your silly comment about a “rat faced gene girl” is unfair and untrue in both cases. Lastly, what points do the Dems have in this instance??? I can see no good points at all.
*. One of their points, anon, is that they can’t succeed because of merit. They have none. They have no talent, no beauty, no intelligence, no inheritance, no education, no money and are doomed to carry bricks for a lifetime to eat, live in a rathole, ride public transport. They live like Sysiphus pushing a Boulder up hill forever..
It’s a valid point. What’s the plan for the meritless person living in a meritocracy?
@Anonymous
The fact that you are paid does not make you any less of an idiot, and that is tripled by your assumption that the rest of us are equally stupid. You convince no one, of anything, keep lighting those dollars on fire.
James, you’ve said nothing. Meritocracies are great if a person has merit. What is the plan for those without merit including immorality.
Prisons and jails? Accept a fate of Sisyphus? Hope for the hereafter where they’ll still be pushing that Boulder? Whats the plan?
While we’re at it with the latest gaslight advertising, Dylan Mulvaney ads cause stock to go down and Sidney Something the dumb blond makes stocks go up?
Very clever while councilwoman, Cincinnati says–> they begged for that beat down? They’re going to pay BIGLY for that.
@Anonymous
I dunno: recent developments with Ghislaine make tinfoil hat me think she may have made a deal to falsely implicate Trump amidst all the dem woes, and they might be willing to sacrifice some of their own in disclosure to do it. Could be real ugly.
It’s a nothing burger, of course (no way they didn’t use info like that before now, and there’s no way they didn’t find it with their microscopic scrutiny if it existed), but I put nothing past our modern dems at this point. I hope I’m wrong. 🤷🏽♂️
Maxwell. Was being roughed up by inmates and threatened. No doubt it’s on video. Unfortunately the video was down when inmates 86ed Epstein. IMO
So it’s come to this in the NEW 3rd world. Hey, I know boys, let’s dodge the vote.
Show their faces and names. Personally I’m stuck on the beatings endured in Cincinnati and the councilwoman’s remarks. That poor woman was unconscious.
Sydney Sweeney, I’m not leaving any genes here at all.
Ano
A note. People immigrate to the US to become American. They don’t immigrate expecting to change the American culture.
_________________
You have no been paying any attention to Muslims groups. They flat out tell you they don’t wish to live the American way. Look at Texas where they are trying to make their own city with Muslims laws.
We told you so
Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez told an audience at the second annual Panamerican Congress this weekend that she’s a proud Guatemalan before she’s an American.
]Typical dem-o-rat
What ever happened to the investigation of Letitia James and mortgage fraud?
What ever happened to the NY Court of Appeals deciding Trump’s appeal against Letitia James and her egregious penalty for Trump’s NOT causing any loss to Deutsche Bank? I believe the fine for this non-event was something like 400 million?
What ever happened to the appeal of Trump against the monstrous judgment levied against him by a woman that claimed he raped her in a dressing room in a crowded clothing store at some time in some year?
Remember Judge Merchan, the father of a Democrat operative, and Judge Ergoron, the most inept Judge I have seen in years of observing cases? The errors these two “judges” made should have caused both cases to be overturned quickly and emphatically, but the NY Court of Appeals has decided to sit on them for seemingly forever.
Hey Merchan and Ergoron, thank you for helping elect Trump president.
HullBobby,
Great observation! Yes, we voters saw through all the lawfare. We suspected back then about the Clinton paid for Steel dossier was nothing but BS. Now we not only find out it was “manufactured intelligence” but got the go ahead by Clinton herself, Obama, then VP Biden and even some in the FBI pushed the hoax. Now we are justified in our vote.
Who really killed Seth Rich and the Wikileaks lawyer and why?
Nice distraction.
Looks like Wally here is still busy losing. Never stop being a loser, Wally!
Easy on seaman Wally, he has a yeast infection. Caught it from using tampons he got from the men’s room…
I read somewhere that in one of those cases the NY appeals court is taking ten times longer to come out with their decision than is typical. It’s hard not to conclude that they just don’t want to give Trump a legal win, so they intend to just sit on it forever.