Texas Democrats Leave State to Block GOP-Supported Voting Restrictions Bill
People opposed to the Texas Republican-led effort to pass new voting restrictions are gathered at the State Capitol as they wait to testify before state lawmakers who began committee hearings on election integrity bills on July 10, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans are moving forward with their effort to overhaul the states voting laws during the 87th Legislatures special session after a previous attempt was blocked when Texas House Democrats staged a dramatic walkout during the regular session in May. Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images

Texas Democrats in the House of Representatives have left the state on Monday afternoon, July 12, to travel to Washington, D.C. in a bid to block the passing of a Republican-supported new voting restrictions bill.

Most House Democrats boarded two planes out of Austin without a set return date, with at least 51 out of the 67 Democratic representatives leaving the state, Texas Tribune reported.

The move will paralyze the chamber until the Democrat lawmakers return to town or the session ends. The lawmakers reportedly vowed to stay in Washington until August to run out the clock on the session as they urged Congress to quickly pass federal legislation to protect voting rights.

The House is set to reconvene on Tuesday, July 13. However, the absence of some Democrats will mean that there will not be enough members present to conduct business under House rules.

Democratic leaders said in a joint statement that Texas House Democrats stand united in their decision to break quorum and refuse to let the voting restrictions measure pass, adding that it would affect the Texans' freedom to vote.

Some Democrats said they hope their absence will give them the advantage to force good-faith negotiations with Republicans.

They claimed that GOP members have largely shut them out of negotiations over the voting bill. The bills were expected to hit the House and Senate floors for votes this week.

Lawmakers did not speak with the media before they left, with terminal staff keeping reporters off the premises and on the street outside.

Supporters of the lawmakers were gathered outside the terminal, holding signs that said "Let my people vote", and "Thank you for fighting voter suppression."

Voting Rights

The Democrats noted that the For the People Act is the only way they can permanently fight election limits that Republicans are pushing at the state level.

The For the People Act is an amended version of Republicans filibustered in the U.S. Senate last month, NBC News reported.

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer said that democracy is on the line, adding that it became very clear to them that any attempts to discuss some Democratic concessions were cut off. Fischer added that it is very clear that Republicans were hellbent on having their own way.

Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made tightening election rules a priority. Abbott slammed the Texas Democrats' decision to break a quorum of the Texas Legislature.

He noted that abandoning the Texas State Capitol harms the very Texans who elected them to publicly serve. Abbott said the State House Democrats leave undone issues that can help their districts and the state.

Fischer said that they want the U.S. Senate to hear them and act by passing the For the People Act.

Republicans in the state legislature will be unable to continue any business in the special session, possibly lasting up to 30 days, The Guardian reported.

Meanwhile, Democrats who had left the state can face possible arrest as state Republicans can authorize law enforcement to haul the Democratic legislators back to the state.

Republicans extended their power in 2003 when Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an act to block new electoral maps that would favor Republicans.

Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan, said they would use every available resource under the state constitution to secure a quorum.

READ MORE: Gov. Greg Abbott Defunds Texas Legislature After Democrats Walkout to Block Election Reform Bill

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Texas Dems Flee State To Avoid Voting In Special Legislative Session - From NBC News