Pritzker says Texas Democrats who fled state will be protected amid arrest threats

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

08/03/25 10:53 PM ET


Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said on Sunday that the state would protect Texas Democrats who fled to the Prairie State over GOP efforts to redraw the Lone Star State’s congressional maps.

“They’re here in Illinois. We’re going to do everything we can to protect every single one of them and make sure that — ’cause we know they’re doing the right thing, we know that they’re following the law,” Pritzker told reporters at a press conference Sunday night held alongside the Texas state lawmakers.

“It’s Ken Paxton who doesn’t follow the law. It’s the leaders of Texas who are attempting not to follow the law,” he continued. “They’re the ones that need to be held accountable.”

The Illinois governor’s comments came after Texas Democrats left their state to deny their GOP counterparts a quorum, or the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business, during their special session. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called the special session in part to push forward a new congressional map that would give Republicans five more pick-up opportunities, something President Trump has been pushing for as the GOP braces for a potentially challenging midterm election next year.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/5434627-redistricting-battle-texas-illinois/

[murielm99]

1. My guv is the best!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Governor Pritzker is putting the Texas Democrats up in one of his hotels free of charge

Link to tweet

[Irish_Dem]

3. I hope he has state troopers or national guard protecting the Dems in his hotel.

[gab13by13]

4. This is how Democrats fight fire with fire,

If we have a 2028 election, Pritzker has to be at the top of the list.

Start a GoFundMe, I want to donate to their fines.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Here is what the TX (D)s are doing (found the article I saw a couple days ago)

Texas Democrats are fundraising to potentially leave the state to block GOP-backed redistricting

By Owen Dahlkamp
July 29, 2025 5 AM Central


(snip)

By fleeing the state to deprive the Legislature of enough members to function, Democrats would each incur a fine of $500 per day and face the threat of arrest. Deep-pocketed donors within the party appear ready to cover these expenses, according to three people involved in the discussions. The donors’ willingness to foot the bill eliminates a major deterrent to walking out — the personal financial cost — and could embolden Democrats who might otherwise hesitate.

But first, the donors and absconding members would need to figure out how to skirt a potential roadblock: Texas House rules prohibit lawmakers from dipping into their campaign coffers to pay the fines. Republicans approved the $500 daily punishment in 2023, two years after Democrats fled the state in an unsuccessful bid to stop Republicans from passing an overhaul of the state’s election laws.

(snip)

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Dallas Democrat who was part of the 2021 quorum break, sees a path to circumvent the campaign finance rules: With minimal limits on external income, Texas lawmakers can simply accept the donations as another salary, she said. As one of the most prolific fundraisers in the U.S. House, Crockett said she’s willing to tap her donor base — and her $3.7 million war chest — to cover the expenses.

(snip)

Donors appeared convinced and ready to open their checkbooks should Texas members decide to flee the state, according to three people who were on the calls or briefed on them. One person estimated lawmakers would need $1 million per month to finance the protest — a sum that those involved in the calls are certain they can secure. Paying these fines may not even be necessary, Crockett believes. “I think that the first step would be to make sure that there are attorneys on deck to actually challenge the legality of these rules,” she said in an interview with The Texas Tribune.

(snip)

[gab13by13]

8. Thank you

[markodochartaigh]

10. They should make the contributions tips

so they wouldn't be taxed.

[LudwigPastorius]

12. Abbott & Paxton are now threatening to...

charge the Democrats with a felony for accepting contributions to pay the fines.

…as well as anyone who makes such a contribution.

[Hornedfrog2000]

13. And who gives a fuck?

Fuck these assholes. Make them carry out their threats.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. When Paxton was impeached

he *should have been convicted and removed*. He is nothing but a shit stain in TX almost worse than Abbott.

And LOL!! I just spotted this from Colin Allred -

Link to tweet

Colin Allred
@ColinAllredTX
Gov. Abbott is relying on Ken Paxton — a man who is more qualified to talk about facing charges than filing them — to try to remove from office democratically elected legislators who are fighting this blatant power grab.

House Dems are holding the line to stand up for Texans and the GOP is spiraling.

https://texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-house-democrats-abbott-threatens-removal-quorum-break/
10:25 AM · Aug 4, 2025

[Prairie Gates]

6. The Supreme Court must be really proud of what they've created here

Everything we learned in junior high school about why the Articles of Confederation failed is being played out now in real time.

You either have a federal government, or you have separate nations. Period. Confederacy is a clown show, a failure again and again and again.

[markodochartaigh]

11. "Confederacy is a clown show..."

*kkklown show

[FakeNoose]

7. Once again ... THANK YOU to Gov. JB Pritzker!

I want to believe that Texas Democrats would also be protected in Pennsylvania. However I haven't heard any announcements from Gov. Shapiro's office yet, so we'll see if that happens.

[Sneederbunk]

9. We need Pritzker in '28 race. He fights.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

14. Thank SCOTUS for this.

They ruled in the Wisconsin case that gerrymandering for political gain is perfectly legal. Thank you John Roberts.

[FakeNoose]

16. I would say it a different way ...

"Spank you" John Roberts

[Grumpy Old Guy]

17. LOL!