While quorum was broken at the Texas State Capitol, Texas House Democrats rallied with allies in Illinois and Massachusetts.
AUSTIN, Texas — Democrats around the country continue to rally around Texas House Democrats who broke quorum this week.
Their allies in redistricting news conferences today include Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, and the DNC Chair Ken Martin. Democrats believe the newly drawn congressional districts disenfranchise communities of color.
One of Texas’ House Republican leaders believes the Democrats will gain anything by breaking quorum, but Democrats say they are exploring all of their options to prevent the maps from taking effect.
Rep. Christina Morales is in Chicago, and is one of the many Democrats who left the state.
“This is gerrymandering on steroids because it’s happening mid-census,” Rep. Morales said. Texas Republicans have proposed redrawn Congressional maps, giving the GOP five additional seats in Congress. The redistricting comes after the Department of Justice claims four existing districts were unconstitutional.
Ken Martin, chairman of the DNC, shared a response to the DOJ’s claims.
“I don’t buy it, its garbage, its pretext to do what they’re doing its not factual, not based in law and again we’re going to fight it, I expect litigation,” Martin said.
On Tuesday, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows says he met with DPS leadership, who say they are working on rounding up members, but it’s unclear if they have the authority to do so.
Rep. Tom Oliverson of Cypress, who is chair of the Texas House Republican Caucus, believes Democrats have nothing to gain by breaking quorum.
“If you look at the states that they have ironically mostly all fled to, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, they are heavily gerrymandered in favor of Democrats,” Rep. Oliverson said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Abbott has asked the Texas Rangers to investigate Democrats for potential bribery and other criminal accusations. Democrats deny they are in the wrong.
“You’ve got a felon in the White House asking for five seats out of Texas, using illegal maps in an illegal way, mid-census redistricting, and they’re calling us the criminals? No, we are not criminals, we protecting American democracy,” Rep. Morales said.
The Texas House Democrats will continue their quorum break, though the Texas House Speaker is asking members to return by Friday.