The Assault on Democracy in Texas

The assault on our representative democracy is rapidly spreading, endangering the lifeblood of our nation. Not only is there a direct threat to the democratic rule of law at the national level, but the forces of evil that are at work in Washington, D.C. are outsourcing the decay to state capitals, and Austin is certainly no exception.

Our state’s governor is cloaking himself in the trappings of MAGA, bowing to Trump’s demands by pushing an abnormal mid-decade redistricting scheme, a move typically reserved for post-census years (the next being 2030). This unprecedented power grab specifically targets districts representing communities of color, dismantling their voting power in a racially motivated effort to secure the five extra Congressional seats Trump demands. If successful, this gerrymander would cement Republican dominance and would unfairly expand Trump’s influence.

To counter that shameless move, the Democrats in the state house have employed a legitimate tactic explicitly allowed by the Texas Constitution: quorum-breaking. This prevents the legislature in Austin from voting to approve this discriminatory district realignment. That move requires the Democrats to leave the state and conduct a stand-off with the governor.

Governor Abbott’s response has been particularly egregious and dishonest. He is actively withholding crucial flood relief funds desperately needed by Texans recovering from disaster, funds he could release immediately without requiring any House vote. Yet, he blames the Democrats’ absence for this delay, cynically holding disaster victims hostage to pressure representatives fighting for fair elections.

We support this constitutionally protected stand and issue our strong endorsement of the Democratic representatives sacrificing their salaries and facing severe financial hardship to defend our democracy.

Their courage is essential, but the personal cost is real. We cannot let them bear this burden alone. It is only through bold actions like theirs, bolstered by our collective support, that we can protect representative democracy.

Stand with our courageous representatives!

Donate to offset their financial hardship. Every dollar sustains their fight against Abbott’s extortion and racist gerrymandering. Send your donation by clicking here: https://Stopthetexastakeover.com.Demand flood relief NOW: Contact Governor Abbott https://gov.texas.gov/CONTACT and your local representatives and insist they release funds immediately:

https://capitol.texas.gov/resources/contacttext.aspx

In solidarity,

Erin Sutka