Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced that FBI Director Kash Patel has approved his request for federal assistance in locating more than 50 Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent a quorum on a controversial redistricting plan.
In a statement released Wednesday, Cornyn confirmed that the FBI will work alongside Texas state and local law enforcement to track down the absent legislators. “I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas,” he said. “We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.”
The move comes after Cornyn sent a letter to the FBI director on August 5, urging federal involvement in what he described as a “dereliction of duty.” He wrote, “In a representative democracy, we resolve our differences by debating and voting, not by running away.”
The Democrats left Texas on August 3 to deny Republican lawmakers the quorum necessary to advance a mid-decade redistricting plan during a special legislative session called by Governor Greg Abbott. The proposed redistricting could potentially add up to five Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Lawmakers reportedly fled to Democratic-leaning states including Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts.
The announcement sparked immediate backlash from Democrats in Washington. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized the use of federal law enforcement for political purposes. “Shouldn’t the FBI be tracking down terrorists, drug traffickers, and child predators?” he posted on X. “The Trump administration continues to weaponize law enforcement to target political adversaries. These extremists don’t give a damn about public safety. We will not be intimidated.”
Cornyn, a veteran senator facing a competitive Republican primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has ramped up efforts to align with the Trump administration’s agenda. Early polling suggests Paxton holds a significant lead in the 2026 race.
