Texas AG Paxton Seeks Arrest of Beto O’Rourke Over Fundraising for Walkout Democrats

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a motion seeking the arrest and jailing of former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, accusing him of violating a temporary restraining order by continuing to fundraise for Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a Republican-backed congressional redistricting map. Paxton alleges that O’Rourke and his group, Powered By People, illegally supported lawmakers who left Texas, resulting in calls for fines and imprisonment until compliance with court orders. The dispute is part of a broader GOP effort to pressure Democrats to return to the state so a new, more GOP-friendly map can be passed, with Democrats facing daily fines and arrest warrants. O’Rourke responded by filing a lawsuit against Paxton, claiming the attorney general is conducting a politically motivated investigation aimed at suppressing voting rights activism. Paxton has also involved the FBI in the search for the absent Democrats, though the bureau has not commented on its role. The standoff underscores the escalating tension in Texas politics over redistricting and voting rights ahead of the 2026 elections.