Beto O'Rourke Defiant After Legal Blow in Texas Redistricting Standoff
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Beto O'Rourke was defiant after a judge temporarily barred him and his political group from helping fund Texas Democratic lawmakers who left their home state to block redrawn congressional maps, which President Donald Trump has backed.
The ruling marks a victory for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who alleged O'Rourke's group Powered by People engaged in bribery and deceptive fundraising.
Paxton "wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization," O'Rourke, a former Texas congressman who ran unsuccessfully for governor and Senate, wrote on X after the ruling on Friday. "He wants to stop us from fighting Trump's attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But I'm not going anywhere."
Newsweek has contacted Paxton's office and O'Rourke through Powered by People for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours.
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke speaks to attendees during a "Our Fight, Our Future" rally at The Millennium bowling alley on October 02, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke speaks to attendees during a "Our Fight, Our Future" rally at The Millennium bowling alley on October 02, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Why It Matters
The Democratic lawmakers who left Texas have denied their Republican colleagues the quorum needed for a vote on the redrawn maps that could net the GOP five additional seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
They face thousands of dollars in out-of-state lodging and dining costs. They also face fines of $500 for each day they are absent and these cannot be paid from their office budgets or political contributions under Texas House rules. Those who left have declined to say how long they'll hold out.
What To Know
Powered by People gave money to the Texas House Democratic Caucus to help cover their up-front costs, a spokesperson for the group told The Associated Press earlier this week.
Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey, a Republican who was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2019 and has since won reelection, granted Paxton's request for a temporary injunction.
"Defendants have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds in a manner that either directly violates or causes Texas Democratic Legislators to violate" state law and House procedures, she wrote in her ruling.
Her order bars Powered by People from using political funds to pay for travel, hotel or dining costs for the Texas Democrats who left the state or fundraising on their behalf.
Powered by People filed a responding lawsuit against Paxton on Friday, alleging his investigation violates the group's right to association, free speech and equal protection, the Houston Chronicle reported.
"The true motivation behind defendant's action thus appears to be an unlawful desire to retaliate against Mr. O'Rourke," it said.
What People Are Saying
Paxton celebrated the judge's ruling, saying in a statement on Friday: "Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to 'come and take it,' so I did.'"
O'Rourke responded to Paxton on X, saying: "Actually, you didn't. Still here, still raising and rallying to stop the steal of 5 congressional seats in Texas. Ironic that you'd accuse someone of bribery when you were impeached in Texas for taking bribes from Nate Paul." (Paxton was acquitted of bribery and corruption charges by the Republican-led Texas Senate in 2023 after the GOP-controlled House voted to impeach him).
In another post, he wrote: "They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won't. Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections... the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump and Abbott have on power in Texas."
What's Next
O'Rourke is set to speak at a rally—dubbed "The People vs. The Power Grab"— in Fort Worth on Saturday afternoon.
Fahey's order is to remain in effect for two weeks. She has scheduled a hearing for August 19.
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