For the second time in the last couple months, Texas State Democrats walked out on the legislature in attempt to stop a vote on a bill that would change the state’s election laws.
More than 50 Democrats took a private plane to a Washington, D.C. suburb Monday. The trip comes just days before the Texas House of Representatives was expected to give early approval to sweeping new voting restrictions in a special legislative session. The Democrats’ absence denies the GOP majority a quorum to pass bills.
“It breaks our heart that we have to do it, but we do it because we are in a fight to save our democracy,” State Rep. Chris Turner said. “The nationwide Republican vote suppression efforts, anti-voter efforts, is coming to a crisis point in the state of Texas right now.”
Rep. Turner said the Democrats were ready to stay in D.C. until the special session ends Aug. 7. In response to the walkout, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would keep calling special sessions through next year if necessary. He called this one after Democrats staged a walkout over the voting overhaul in May.
“If they do not return to work, they are risking losing their jobs as state representatives for not showing up,” Gov. Abbott said. “As soon as they come back in the state of Texas, they will be arrested; they will be cabined inside the Texas Capitol until they get their job done.”
Texas House rules state that absent legislators can be arrested by the sergeant-at-arms or somebody appointed by the sergeant-at-arms and returned to the House floor. Because of this rule, Texas Democrats looking to break quorum travel out of state, where Texas officers lack jurisdiction.
An order to arrest House members must be voted on by a majority of lawmakers present after quorum has been broken.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tweeted a photo of the Democrats on their trip to D.C., saying “Smiling House Dems fly off to DC on a private jet with a case of Miller Lite, breaking House quorum, abandoning their constituents, while the Senate still works. It’s my hope that Senate Dems report tomorrow to do what they were elected to do. We will vote on #SB1.”
While in D.C., the Democrats plan to pressure the White House and Congress to act on voting at the federal level.
President Joe Biden is due to deliver an address on the issue Tuesday in Philadelphia. He and his team have promised a major legislative push after Senate Republicans blocked a sweeping election overhaul last month.
While addressing the topic in Detroit Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris praised the Texas Democrats. “We sat down and had an extensive conversation in the Roosevelt Room in the White House,” Vice President Harris said. “And I applaud them standing for the rights of all Americans and all Texans to express their voice through their vote unencumbered.”
The Texas Democratic Party issued a statement on the walkout Monday: “After Democrats historically blocked Republicans’ anti-voter efforts in the spring legislative session, Abbott called an irregular extra legislative session in order to resurrect the anti-voter legislation — Republicans’ main hope of holding onto power in the 2022 election. “In response to Republicans’ escalation of their attacks on voters, Democrats continue to hold the line,” the statement read.