Mass. takes center stage in Texas redistricting fight
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Democratic state legislators from across the country packed the front steps of the Massachusetts State House in solidarity with their Texas counterparts. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios
The Massachusetts State House became a national pulpit Wednesday morning for lawmakers rallying behind Texas Democrats refusing to head home for a redistricting vote.
Between the lines: Boston has been hosting state lawmakers across the country this week for the National Conference of State Legislatures summit — a gathering that organizers hoped would remain civil.
Yes, but: The escalating conflict between Texas House Republicans and the Democratic minority spilled into NCSL talks as Gov. Greg Abbott called to expel those who haven't returned.
- A small fraction of the 50 Texas Democrats who left Texas are at the NCSL summit in Boston this week, blowing past a Monday afternoon deadline to return. They may face daily fines and political backlash.
- Now their refusal to return has become a rallying cry for Democrats nationwide in challenging Republican-led redistricting efforts pushed by President Trump — all on Beacon Hill's doorstep.
Driving the news: Democratic state lawmakers from across the country swarmed the front steps of the State House to support the Texas legislators.
- "No one is running from their duties," Texas Sen. José Menéndez said of the House faceoff. "People are standing up for the rights of Black and brown voters."
Zoom out: Democrats from Missouri, North Carolina and other states also accused Republicans in red states of disenfranchising Black and Latino voters, as well as opponents of Trump administration policies.
- "In resisting partisan gerrymandering, Texas legislators are not just standing for their constituents, but the future of our Republican South," North Carolina Sen. Sophia Chitlik, a Democrat, told the crowd.
Gov. Maura Healey and Secretary of State William Galvin held their own press conference Tuesday afternoon with 12 Texas lawmakers.
- "These folks did not flee Texas," Galvin said, per the State House News Service.
- "They came here to get the message out to the rest of us across this country that when you do what Trump has done in Texas and is attempting to preclude in Texas, you are stealing the rights of Massachusetts voters and voters throughout this country."
The other side: Abbott says he will target "derelict Democrat Texas House members" who left the state, starting with Democratic Rep. Gene Wu.
- Abbott filed a lawsuit Tuesday night with the state Supreme Court to strip Wu of his seat.
- "If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, regular or special session, potentially bankrupting the state in an attempt to get their way."
- President Trump told CNBC Tuesday the GOP is "entitled to five more seats" in Texas.
- Trump later claimed without evidence that Democrats were denying Republicans congressional districts in Massachusetts, saying they should have 40% representation because he won 40% of the vote (he won 36% of the vote and got the majority vote in 40 of the state's 351 municipalities).
What we're watching: The summit ends Wednesday, and Texas Democrats in Boston will have to decide whether to head home or keep stalling the vote.
