Ken Paxton seeks court order declaring that Dem 'runaways' vacated their seats

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced plans to ask a court to determine whether Democrats who fled the state to prevent Republican redistricting efforts had "vacated" their office.

After Democrats denied the Texas House of Representatives a two-thirds quorum for the second day in a row on Tuesday, Paxton released a statement on his intentions to have their seats declared vacant.

"Democrats have abandoned their offices by fleeing Texas, and a failure to respond to a call of the House constitutes a dereliction of their duty as elected officials," Paxton said. "Starting Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the House will be held accountable for vacating their office. The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines. If you don't show up to work, you get fired."

The statement went on to insist that Democrats were "refusing to perform their duties in a manner that amounts to abandonment of office."

"If the runaway members of the legislative minority do not return to the House and resume performance of their duties by the deadline, Attorney General Paxton will seek judicial relief confirming that their office is vacant," the statement said.

On Monday, House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) signed civil arrest warrants for the missing Democrats.