A bizarre Texas judicial decree, arrest warrant and restraining order all in one against Beto O’Rourke. His political group, Powered by People, now faces a ban on transmitting money to Democratic legislators from other states. Tempers are running high over the long simmering redistricting war in Texas. An unprecedented number of Democrats have taken the extraordinary step of temporarily fleeing the state to avoid this conflict.
At a protest in Austin on Saturday, O’Rourke declared that Democrats would “not bend the knee” while pushing back against Republican efforts to reshape the state’s political landscape. He emphasized the strategic advantage Democrats had, stating, “We were playing chess and they were playing tic-tac-toe. We were able to stop them, so their numbers didn’t matter.”
According to their own estimates, O’Rourke’s group has already poured over $1 million in donations to Texas Democrats. This support followed an early-in-the-redistricting-session offensive redistricting mechanism that prompted a Democratic lawmakers walk-out. The money has gone towards supporting dozens of caucuses. This is exemplified by the letters from the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, the Texas House Democratic Caucus and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Judge Megan Fahey’s order expands upon previous restrictions against O’Rourke and his organization, affirming that they are barred from sending money out of Texas. Fahey found that O’Rourke’s fundraising activities would disrupt the legislative process during this important time.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton welcomed the court’s ruling, asserting that O’Rourke’s actions constituted a “fraudulent attempt to pad the pockets of the rogue cowards abandoning Texas.” Paxton stated, “In Texas, lawless actions have consequences, and Beto’s finding that out the hard way.“
O’Rourke hasn’t sat idly by as judges strike down his policies. Until earlier this month, he had been filing such lawsuits against Paxton. He seeks to halt an investigation into his nonprofit, claiming it constitutes a “fishing expedition” that violates constitutional rights.
As political and social tensions continue to rise, California Governor Gavin Newsom has similarly observed, though more quietly, the events unfolding in Texas. He unveiled a plan that could potentially redraw voting lines in California, creating five additional safe Democratic seats in Congress if Texas Republicans continue their current redistricting efforts. Newsom’s efforts are part of a much larger strategy among Democrats to combat Republican moves across the country.
And even as this article goes to press, the situation in Texas remains fluid. Democratic legislators have fled to Chicago, where Illinois Gov. In early August, Pritzker began sheltering Democratic lawmakers from across the border. For each day they skip an emergency legislative meeting summoned by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, they incur a $500 penalty. This $250 penalty escalates fast!
A second special legislative session will begin in Austin on Monday. As members of the Democratic delegation prepare to head home, they face a daunting challenge in the form of the redistricting bill that’s all but certain to pass in Arkansas.
Democrats like O’Rourke and many of their presidential primary opponents are positioning themselves for an important inflection point. Democrats view this as a rare and important opportunity to counter what they perceive is Republican overreach. As he stated at the Austin rally, “We’re going to stand and fight wherever we have to – from the state house to the court house, from Texas to California.”