Texas Hold ‘Em

The Texas State House voted 85-6 to issue civil arrest warrants for over 50 of their (absent) Democratic colleagues. 

The Democrats fled the state to block a vote on a controversial new congressional map. Republicans are trying to redraw district lines mid-decade, a rare move that could flip five seats in the U.S. House of Representatives from blue to red in 2026. Without a two-thirds quorum (100 of 150 members), the Lone Star State’s House can’t vote… hence the exodus.

Texas Governor Abbott (R) promised to expel absent members from office for “degradation of duty” (expect legal challenges) and warned them that fundraising to pay the $500/day absentee fine may trigger felony bribery charges.

Meanwhile, Blue states are promising to strike back: California and New York proposed their own mid-decade redraws to offset Texas’s move.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Politics can get messy, but our hope isn’t in a district map, political party, or perfect government—it’s in a King whose reign is never up for a vote. 

“God ascends among shouts of joy, the LORD, with the sound of a ram’s horn. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise! Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” 
Psalm 47:5–8 (CSB) (read full passage)