BOSTON – Days after Texas Democrats departed their state to halt a vote on a new congressional district map, some Lone Star State lawmakers found a supportive audience on Beacon Hill Tuesday with Gov. Maura Healey and Secretary of State William Galvin.
“These folks did not flee Texas. 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,” Galvin, the state’s top elections official, said during a gathering in Healey’s office, flanked by 10 Texas state senators and two representatives.
More than 50 House Democrats left Texas over the weekend, thwarting a scheduled vote on a mid-decade redistricting effort that could potentially give Republicans an additional five seats in the U.S. House, according to the Texas Tribune. Redistricting usually occurs each decade, based on adjusted U.S. Census figures.
Texas GOP lawmakers, facing pressure from the Trump administration, have said their effort was meant to help Republican candidates, with the aim of maintaining control of the U.S. House, the Tribune reported. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Republicans are “entitled to five more seats” in Texas, according to Politico.
“You know, Trump likes to use the word ‘rigged’ – it’s one of his favorite words, rigged and stolen. Well, he’s the master thief here,” Galvin said. “He’s the one who’s trying to crack open the safe on democracy and rip its contents all over the place.”
Texas state Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, has accused Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of “using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans,” according to the Texas Tribune. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice has warned that four existing congressional districts in Texas were unconstitutionally drawn by combining Black and Hispanic voters.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows this week said that pursuant to Texas House rules he was prepared to help “compel the return of absent members” and sign warrants “for the civil arrest of the members who have said they will not be here.” Burrows mentioned human trafficking and disaster aid bills that need attention.
“There are real-world problems demanding immediate solutions, but instead of confronting those challenges, some of our colleagues have fled the state and their duty,” Burrows said, according to remarks posted to YouTube. “They’ve left the state, abandoned their posts, and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent. They’ve shirked their responsibilities under the direction and pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who don’t know the first thing about what’s right for Texas.”
The State House visit from Texas lawmakers Tuesday coincided with the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual summit in Boston. Sens. Carol Alvarado, César Blanco, Molly Cook, Sarah Eckhardt, Nathan Johnson, José Menéndez, Borris Miles, Royce West and Reps. Armando Walle and Ana Hernandez met privately with Healey, Galvin and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll before addressing reporters.
“I pledge my support to them,” said Healey, who described the Texas lawmakers as taking a stand for “free and fair elections” and to “protect their constituents and the integrity of their state’s congressional elections.”
“This is, to be really clear about it, a partisan, craven, political power grab attempt by the president of the United States, Governor Greg Abbott, and [Texas] AG Paxton,” Healey said. “That’s what this is, quite simple, and it’s done to further an agenda that’s about protecting them, and their power, and the president’s perception of power. It’s outrageous, and it impacts all of us across this country.”
Alvarado, chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, noted the visit comes a day before the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which was signed by President Lyndon Johnson of Texas. Legislators from Texas and other states will hold a press conference Wednesday morning on the State House steps about the law.
“You all have heard the game Texas Hold-’em. Well, we are literally holding the line on democracy, not just for Texas but for our nation,” Alvarado said. “We are here to talk about with other legislators from around the country: This is coming to you, you’re next.”
Hernandez said she and her colleagues left Texas to ensure their constituents “have a voice.”
“Because that’s what this process is doing — it’s silencing our constituents, and we will not stand for it,” Hernandez said.
The gerrymandering sparring has prompted Democratic Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York to threaten plans to redraw their own states’ congressional maps to favor Democrats.
Healey said redistricting pressures from Trump and Texas leaders have given other states “no choice.”
The current Massachusetts congressional maps are “fair” and were approved by former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, Healey added. All nine Massachusetts House seats are represented by Democrats.
As reporters asked if Massachusetts would pursue a redistricting effort, Galvin chimed in: “We have no Republicans to give.” The secretary said the gerrymandering debacle in Texas extends beyond the state and represents an “American fight.”
“Let’s stop it in Texas. Let’s prevent this from happening,” Galvin said.
Galvin said the redrawn map in Texas would splinter communities of color.
“This is not simply, we’ll move a couple of lines here and there, and we’ll pick up five seats,” Galvin said. “No, this is a very deliberate destruction of minority communities with the objective of trying to get more seats.”
Texas representatives are facing steep fines and civil arrest warrants for not returning to the state.
“The price to pay pales in comparison to the rights of everyday people, everyday constituents that we represent proudly,” Walle said.
