Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks prison time for Beto O’Rourke over fundraising for Dems who fled state

Earlier this month, a Texas judge issued a restraining order prohibiting O’Rourke and his nonprofit from fundraising for the lawmakers after Paxton sued him. The dispute stems from Democrats leaving the state to block a GOP-led redistricting vote that could add up to five more Republican congressional seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

Paxton claimed in his filing that O’Rourke violated the order by continuing to solicit donations through ActBlue. He urged a judge to jail O’Rourke for the violation.

“Robert Francis flagrantly and knowingly violated the court order I secured that prevents him from raising funds and distributing any more Beto Bribes,” Paxton said in his statement. “He’s about to find out that running your mouth and ignoring the rule of law has consequences in Texas. It’s time to lock him up.”

Paxton has also threatened legal action against the dozens of Democratic lawmakers who fled to states like Illinois and New York to block the vote. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered those lawmakers arrested, while Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove them from office for abandoning their positions.

O’Rourke has been vocal on the redistricting battle, which has expanded nationwide, telling Democrats to “F*** the rules.”

"There are no refs in this game, f*** the rules, we are going to win. Whatever it takes, we are going to take this to them in every way that we can,” O’Rourke recently said at an event.