More than 50 Democratic lawmakers in the Texas House fled the state in early August 2025 to prevent a Republican-led vote on redrawing the state's 38 congressional districts. The redistricting effort, backed by President Donald Trump, aims to increase Republican seats in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. By leaving Texas, Democrats denied the legislature a quorum necessary to hold the vote. In response, Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to revoke the lawmakers' membership, declare their seats vacant, and initiate the process to replace them if they did not return by the specified deadline. Abbott also ordered the issuance of arrest warrants for the absent Democrats and deployed state troopers to locate and detain them. Attorney General Ken Paxton supported these actions and suggested the lawmakers could face felony bribery charges. Texas Senator John Cornyn requested FBI assistance to help state law enforcement find and arrest the fleeing Democrats. President Trump publicly endorsed this move, stating the FBI "may have to" intervene to bring the lawmakers back to Texas. Abbott has also filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court to remove the top Democratic leader who fled the state. The standoff has created a political deadlock in Texas, with Democrats seeking to block a redistricting plan that would bolster Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives.