JUST IN: Texas Redistricting Effort Clears Major Hurdle

The Texas State Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a new federal congressional map that will draw out five safe Democrat-leaning seats, bringing state redistricting efforts one step closer to becoming law as State House Democrats continue to hold out in an effort to sabotage the vote.

New maps were approved by a final vote of 19-2, with nine Senate Democrats absent after they stormed out of the chamber in order to protest what they described as a “corrupt process.”

“This mid-decade redistricting isn’t about fair representation—it’s about politicians picking their voters instead of voters choosing their leaders,” the Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement. “And it doesn’t stop here. If they can gerrymander now, they can and will do it before every election.”

The tantrum was not enough to stop a quorum, as their Democratic Party colleagues have been able to do in the lower chamber. The Texas House – which is currently comprised of 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats – cannot take scheduled votes unless two-thirds of its members are present.

Absent Democrats have fled to a number of blue states, primarily Illinois, as they attempt to block the majority’s legislative agenda. The lawmakers may be running out of time, however, as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently secured a court ruling that froze fundraising for the effort from a group linked to failed gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke.

Powered by People, O’Rourke’s group, has openly bragged about paying for lodging, travel and any fines incurred by the absent lawmakers while they remain in Illinois. Colorado and elsewhere. Paxton has also taken steps to remove the absent lawmakers from office, citing previous State Supreme Court cases that found the minority party has no legal basis to block the majority’s agenda.

Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, conceded that absent lawmakers are increasingly struggling to maintain their blockade. “So Gene, based on what you’re saying, should we anticipate that this is going to go on for another couple of weeks with Texas lawmakers?” Wu was asked during an appearance on MSNBC Monday.

“Yeah, we’re doing our absolute best to hold on, and it’s not easy. And like you all said before, we have lots of expenses, lots of fees. People are calling in bomb threats. People are threatening to use the FBI on us,” the Texas House Democrat leader responded. Wu — whose effort has been publicly funded by wealthy financiers like the George Soros network — went on to claim that the absent Democrats represent the working class. 

“We’re not wealthy. Most of us are working class people, right? And there’s members who are, they live paycheck to paycheck. And that’s the reality for most Americans. And we’re gonna try to hold out as long as we can, do absolutely everything we can, but we’re human beings. At some point, we can’t go on, but we’re trying to have to fight for this at some point,” he continued.

“We can’t go on, but we’re trying to buy enough time that other people come in and fight with us, and we’re asking all Americans and all Texans.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stated that lawmakers will re-vote on the maps this coming Friday if Democrats continue their blockade. The Texas legislature has also floated the idea of drawing out as many as 10 Democrat-controlled districts if House Democrats continue their stunt even further.