Texas voting law spat underscores Democratic alarm amid historic GOP election reform drive

A massive Democratic walkout in the Texas State House of Representatives has thrown into sharp relief the increasing anxiety shown by many Democrats amid an historic, aggressive effort by Republicans across the country to reform state voting laws. 

Coordinated via text message, Sunday's walkout saw the 67 Democrats who form the minority party in the Texas House depart the House floor and reconvene in a nearby black Baptist church in protest of the voting reform package pushed by Texas Republicans. 

On its website, the Texas House Democratic Caucus touted the walkout, calling the bill "anti-voter legislation" and claiming the legislators "had no choice but to take extraordinary measures to protect our constituents and their right to vote."

State Rep. James Talarico said the voting bill was "the straw that broke the camel's back" for Democrats in the legislature. 

"I think my colleagues and I were as strategic as posisble in thinking about what the ramifications [of the walkout] would be," he told Just the News via phone. "I think the hope is that by killing this version of the bill, we'll be able to go into the special session and renegotiate a version of the bill that doesn't hurt as many people."

Democratic state Rep. Michelle Beckley, meanwhile, said via email that the walkout "gave us and the people of Texas time to consider what restrictions legislation like this will impose upon our voting rights and adequately prepare to fight against them."

The bill will almost certainly still pass the legislature and be signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, potentially making the walkout little more than a symbolic gesture. Still, as Talarico noted, the performance could serve to catalyze Democratic resistance to ongoing efforts by state-level Republicans to reform U.S. election law. 

"We're hopeful that our actions on Monday continue to galvanize attention around this really important issue and that we'll continue to put pressure on our Republican colleagues and do the right thing," Talarico said. Democrats, he added, hope to confront provisions in the bill such as enhanced power for poll watchers to monitor elections and new regulations surrounding voter registration. 

Talarico said the legislature could return as early as the end of June, or potentially as late as the fall, depending on if and when the governor elects to call a special session.