Texas Democrats leave House floor, blocking Republicans from passing new voting-laws bill hours before deadline

Texas Republicans’ push to enact a slew of new voting laws was temporarily blocked by Democrats who walked off the state House floor late Sunday night, leaving majority Republicans without the quorum they needed to approve the bill in the final hours before a midnight deadline.

Their move effectively killed Senate Bill 7 for this year’s legislative session. But it could soon be revived: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Sunday night that he is adding “election integrity” to a list of topics lawmakers will address in a special session he plans to call.
“Legislators will be expected to have worked out the details when they arrive at the Capitol for the special session,” Abbott said.

Democrats left the chamber at about 10:45 p.m., CT, leaving Republican Speaker Dade Phelan to concede that the House did not have the 100 members necessary for a quorum and to adjourn the House for the night.
Republicans in Texas had sought to join Florida, Georgia and other GOP-controlled states that have adopted new laws that aim to improve election security.

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POLITICS EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS