Latest news with #SpecialSession
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Beto O'Rourke PAC donated more than $1 million to Democrats during redistricting walkout
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke announced on Saturday that his political group, Powered by People, donated more than $1 million to Texas Democrats during a special session in which they walked out to deny Republicans the quorum they needed to pass new congressional maps. In the announcement, O'Rourke said that 'more than 55,000 donations' poured in from people across the country since the start of the first special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. The money from his political group benefited the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, the Texas House Democratic Caucus, and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus. Abbott's first special session, which ended Friday, didn't have a quorum for the past two weeks because most of the House's 62 Democrats left the state to prevent proposed redistricting aimed at securing more GOP seats in Congress. He immediately called a second special session. Last week, a Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, temporarily blocking Powered by People from fundraising for Democrats or financially supporting the quorum break. Paxton on Tuesday argued in a motion that O'Rourke had violated the temporary injunction. He asked the judge to imprison O'Rourke for the duration of the lawsuit, and to fine the Democrat $500 for each alleged violation of the injunction. O'Rourke filed his own lawsuit against Paxton earlier this month after being sued by the attorney general. He's asking a judge to block Paxton's investigation into Powered by People and alleges that he engaged in a 'fishing expedition, constitutional rights be damned.' In 2021, when Democrats broke quorum and left the state to prevent a bill that sought to tighten voting rules, which eventually became law, Powered by People donated around $600,000 to help pay for their expenses, including lodging, travel, and meals. That was before the House passed new rules in 2023 imposing a $500-per-day fine on lawmakers who leave the state during sessions and said they aren't allowed to use campaign funds to pay the penalties. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Beto O'Rourke PAC donated $1 million to Texas Democrats during walkout Solve the daily Crossword
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Texas Democrats Set Stage for Return in Redistricting Fight
Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas say they'd be open to returning under certain conditions after leaving 10 days ago to block controversial new congressional maps backed by President Donald Trump. The Democrats said they would go home if two conditions are met. One is for the current special session in the Texas House of Representatives to adjourn Friday, something leaders of the Republican-dominated chamber have already said will happen. Another session is set to start the same day.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Democrats Weigh Return to State in Redistricting Fight
(Bloomberg) -- Democratic lawmakers from Texas say they're considering their options amid a report they could return to the state as soon as this weekend, a move that may end a standoff in which more than 50 state representatives left in a bid to block controversial new congressional maps backed by President Donald Trump. While the Democrats vowed to stay out of Texas long enough to prevent a vote during a special session of the state legislature, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to call session after session to pass the redistricting proposal. Sunseeking Germans Face Swiss Backlash Over Alpine Holiday Congestion To Head Off Severe Storm Surges, Nova Scotia Invests in 'Living Shorelines' New York Warns of $34 Billion Budget Hole, Biggest Since 2009 Crisis Five Years After Black Lives Matter, Brussels' Colonial Statues Remain For Homeless Cyclists, Bikes Bring an Escape From the Streets That complicates efforts for the Democrats to stop the new maps, which could give the GOP five new Republican-leaning US House districts, strengthening their hold on Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. ABC News reported Tuesday that the lawmakers are planning to return to Austin as soon as this weekend, citing multiple unnamed sources. The Texas state House Democratic caucus said in a post on social media that they were meeting and 'still assessing their strategies going forward,' declining to comment further. If the Democrats return, it's unclear what actions they would consider during any additional sessions. The Texas mapping duel has erupted into a national controversy as Republicans seek to protect their narrow majority in the US House of Representatives. While states across the country usually adjust district lines every 10 years to reflect population changes, Trump has pushed state lawmakers to redraw the maps now in a way that could add as many as five Republican-leaning House seats. Texas state House Democrats left the state in early August in a bid to stall the bill, scattering from Illinois to New York and depriving the Texas House of Representatives of the minimum number of lawmakers present to hold a vote — a tactic known as a quorum break. Absent members have racked up fines of $500 per day, a penalty established after Democrats similarly broke quorum in 2021. Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the Republican nomination for US Senate, responded by filing lawsuits to remove some of the Democratic representatives from office, arguing they had vacated their seats. They also targeted Democratic fundraisers including former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, who helped cover expenses for the lawmakers, alleging the support constituted bribery. Previous Democratic quorum breaks in Texas have delayed redistricting efforts, but failed to stop Republicans from ultimately altering the maps. National Democrats, however, have said other states could retaliate in kind. California and New York Democrats have threatened to rewrite their own maps in a way that would risk Republican seats in those states, should Texas Republicans force through new district lines. Other Republican-controlled states, including Florida, Indiana, and Missouri, are similarly eyeing redistricting to add seats where possible. California's Governor Gavin Newsom said this week that Democrats in his state would back down from redistricting if Trump told Republican leaders to halt their plans. 'You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make,' Newsom wrote to the president on Monday. The Texas state legislature was also scheduled to address other issues during the special session, including emergency response systems and property taxes. Democrats could try to demand the legislature prioritize its response to the deadly floods that tore through Central Texas in July before taking up redistricting. While they hold little power in the Republican-dominated House, they could leave again if those demands are not met. (Updates with Newsom warning in 12th paragraph.) Bessent on Tariffs, Deficits and Embracing Trump's Economic Plan Why It's Actually a Good Time to Buy a House, According to a Zillow Economist Dubai's Housing Boom Is Stoking Fears of Another Crash The Social Media Trend Machine Is Spitting Out Weirder and Weirder Results A $340 Million New York Office Makeover Is Converting Boardrooms to Bedrooms ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Democrats Weigh Return to State in Redistricting Fight
(Bloomberg) -- Democratic lawmakers from Texas say they're considering their options amid a report they could return to the state as soon as this weekend, a move that may end a standoff in which more than 50 state representatives left in a bid to block controversial new congressional maps backed by President Donald Trump. While the Democrats vowed to stay out of Texas long enough to prevent a vote during a special session of the state legislature, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to call session after session to pass the redistricting proposal. Sunseeking Germans Face Swiss Backlash Over Alpine Holiday Congestion To Head Off Severe Storm Surges, Nova Scotia Invests in 'Living Shorelines' New York Warns of $34 Billion Budget Hole, Biggest Since 2009 Crisis Five Years After Black Lives Matter, Brussels' Colonial Statues Remain For Homeless Cyclists, Bikes Bring an Escape From the Streets That complicates efforts for the Democrats to stop the new maps, which could give the GOP five new Republican-leaning US House districts, strengthening their hold on Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. ABC News reported Tuesday that the lawmakers are planning to return to Austin as soon as this weekend, citing multiple unnamed sources. The Texas state House Democratic caucus said in a post on social media that they were meeting and 'still assessing their strategies going forward,' declining to comment further. If the Democrats return, it's unclear what actions they would consider during any additional sessions. The Texas mapping duel has erupted into a national controversy as Republicans seek to protect their narrow majority in the US House of Representatives. While states across the country usually adjust district lines every 10 years to reflect population changes, Trump has pushed state lawmakers to redraw the maps now in a way that could add as many as five Republican-leaning House seats. Texas state House Democrats left the state in early August in a bid to stall the bill, scattering from Illinois to New York and depriving the Texas House of Representatives of the minimum number of lawmakers present to hold a vote — a tactic known as a quorum break. Absent members have racked up fines of $500 per day, a penalty established after Democrats similarly broke quorum in 2021. Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the Republican nomination for US Senate, responded by filing lawsuits to remove some of the Democratic representatives from office, arguing they had vacated their seats. They also targeted Democratic fundraisers including former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, who helped cover expenses for the lawmakers, alleging the support constituted bribery. Previous Democratic quorum breaks in Texas have delayed redistricting efforts, but failed to stop Republicans from ultimately altering the maps. National Democrats, however, have said other states could retaliate in kind. California and New York Democrats have threatened to rewrite their own maps in a way that would risk Republican seats in those states, should Texas Republicans force through new district lines. Other Republican-controlled states, including Florida, Indiana, and Missouri, are similarly eyeing redistricting to add seats where possible. California's Governor Gavin Newsom said this week that Democrats in his state would back down from redistricting if Trump told Republican leaders to halt their plans. 'You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make,' Newsom wrote to the president on Monday. The Texas state legislature was also scheduled to address other issues during the special session, including emergency response systems and property taxes. Democrats could try to demand the legislature prioritize its response to the deadly floods that tore through Central Texas in July before taking up redistricting. While they hold little power in the Republican-dominated House, they could leave again if those demands are not met. (Updates with Newsom warning in 12th paragraph.) Bessent on Tariffs, Deficits and Embracing Trump's Economic Plan Why It's Actually a Good Time to Buy a House, According to a Zillow Economist Dubai's Housing Boom Is Stoking Fears of Another Crash The Social Media Trend Machine Is Spitting Out Weirder and Weirder Results A $340 Million New York Office Makeover Is Converting Boardrooms to Bedrooms ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
CNN
7 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Texas Democrats weighing whether to return to state and end redistricting standoff, sources tell CNN
Texas Democratic lawmakers are currently holding a members-only meeting and discussing next steps as they weigh how long to continue to remain out of the state and block a new congressional map, three sources close to the caucus told CNN. The deliberations come as Texas Republicans signaled they intend to end the current special session on Friday and call a new one immediately after to continue pushing a new map that could net them 5 additional House seats. Two people inside the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, told CNN that no decision has been made on whether to return to Texas. However, they are debating how much more they can accomplish by prolonging their self-imposed exile. 'Texas Democrats are looking at every possible option to ensure our constitution and our democracy are protected,' Rep. John Bucy said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. 'Members are meeting over the next week to discuss our strategy and watch what is happening back home. We have consistently said that we are willing to go home if the governor puts people over politics. The ball is in the governor's court.' This headline and story have been updated with additional developments.
