Texas Democrats Attempt to Block Redistricting
This month, Texas House Democrats decided to leave the state, which resulted in not having enough members for a quorum. By doing this, they managed to stall the Republicans’ efforts to pass new Congressional district maps and gain five additional seats ahead of the midterms.
After the Democrats left, Texas Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) authorized an arrest warrant for the absent lawmakers. Governor Greg Abbott (R) instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to carry out these arrests.
As the situation unfolded, the Democrats seemed to realize their actions might not lead to the change they hoped for. They returned to Texas later in the week.
Leadership insisted on leaving the Capitol on a Monday, as they had received a formal escort order from Burrows through DPS. Instead of complying, some opted to work alongside Texas Rep. Brian Harrison (R) instead. Reports came in about some members expressing frustration, being quite vocal about their displeasure.
Representative Nicole Collier notably used a playful method to highlight her stance, posting a picture of herself lounging in a chair with pillows and blankets as a protest. She described the demand for a police escort as unreasonable along with her photos on social media.
Her actions drew attention, even from Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who described Collier as an inspiration and noted, “You are among those who have history to be the hero of this moment.”
In solidarity, Texas Democrat Mijerapresa and a few others returned to the room and attempted to make a statement by tearing up the permit slip.
On a different note, Hillary Clinton chimed in, stating, “I stand with Rep. Nicole Collier and other Texas Democrats on the frontlines of protecting American democracy,” suggesting that they were safeguarding democratic principles.
This notion, however, seems to overlook the implications of their exit and the police escorts, which hinted at their attempts to obstruct the democratic process in Texas.
