In Texas, leaving the state has a storied political history. In 2003, Democratic lawmakers famously fled to New Mexico and Oklahoma in an effort to avoid Republican legislation to redraw the state’s congressional districts. A departure by dozens of Democrats would be the second time in six weeks Texas Democrats have used that tactic to try to prevent passage of a new voting bill. Hours before the State Legislature’s regularly planned session ended in May, State House Democrats walked out of the Capitol chamber, denying Republicans a quorum. Vice President Kamala Harris praised the effort, as did the Texas Democratic Party and voting rights groups.

Source: New York Times July 12, 2021 16:51 UTC