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texas Democrats Defy state, Remain in New York and Illinois to Block Voting Legislation
New York, NY – A group of Texas democratic lawmakers are continuing to avoid returning to Texas, remaining in New York and Illinois as of Monday, in an attempt to prevent a quorum needed to pass new voting restrictions proposed by the state’s Republican leadership. The standoff raises questions about the limits of state power and the tactics employed to fight controversial legislation.
Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker speaks about the Texas voting legislation during a press conference in Chicago on Sunday. (AP: mark Black)
“He has no legal mechanism,” stated Jolanda Jones, a Texas Democrat currently in New York. “Subpoenas from Texas don’t work in New York, so he can’t come and get us. Subpoenas in Texas don’t work in Chicago. … He’s putting up smoke and mirrors.”
The dispute centers around Senate bill 8, which would impose stricter voter identification requirements, limit early voting hours, and curtail ballot drop-off locations. Democrats argue the bill is a deliberate attempt to suppress voting rights, notably among minority and low-income voters.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul publicly voiced her support for the Texas Democrats, framing their actions as a defense of national democratic principles. “We’re not going to tolerate our democracy being stolen in a modern-day stagecoach heist by a bunch of law-breaking cowboys,” Hochul declared on Monday.
“If Republicans are willing to rewrite rules to give themselves an advantage, then they’re leaving us with no choice: We must do the same. You have to fight fire with fire.”
Texas House rules stipulate that a quorum of 51 members must be present for the chamber to conduct business. By fleeing the state, the democrats deny Republicans the necessary number of lawmakers to vote on the bill. The democrats initially traveled to Washington D.C. before relocating to New York and Illinois.
Legislators’ absence constitutes a civil violation of Texas House rules. In 2021, the Texas Supreme Court affirmed the authority of House leadership to “physically compel the attendance” of absent members, though no Democrats were forcibly returned to Texas after warrants were issued that year.
More recently, in 20
