Texas Senate contenders vie to capture fleeing Democratic legislators
In the midst of the redistricting showdown in Texas, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating Beto O'Rourke and his political action committee, Powered by People, for allegedly operating an unlawful fundraising scheme to finance Texas House Democrats who fled the state to break quorum.
Paxton filed a lawsuit accusing O'Rourke and Powered by People of intentionally misleading donors by representing fundraising as political contributions while using the funds for personal expenses of the lawmakers, which would violate Texas laws against deceptive fundraising and bribery.
A Texas district court has granted a temporary restraining order that halts all fundraising and expenditures by Powered by People related to this activity while the litigation proceeds. Paxton also requested an injunction to prevent further financial support to the quorum-breaking Democrats and has demanded documents from O'Rourke's group in the ongoing investigation.
In response, O'Rourke has filed a counter-lawsuit accusing Paxton of a “fishing expedition” and denying wrongdoing, asserting that Paxton's actions are politically motivated attempts to suppress voter registration efforts connected to Powered by People.
Meanwhile, Ken Paxton is pushing to remove some of these legislators from office. This investigation is currently in an active legal phase involving lawsuits on both sides, a court-ordered temporary restraining order stopping certain fundraising activities by O'Rourke's PAC, and document requests in the inquiry into the alleged improper funding of Democrats who broke quorum.
The redistricting showdown in Texas is shaping one of the most bruising and expensive Senate races in next year's midterm elections. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn is facing a primary challenge against Ken Paxton. Beto O'Rourke, a major Democrat who has announced his candidacy in the Senate race, is supportive of the fleeing lawmakers.
Texas state Sen. James Talarico, who is considering entering the Senate race, is among the Democrats who fled to Illinois. Talarico has given multiple interviews to media outlets since arriving in Illinois, discussing the redistricting battle and his stance on various political issues.
The Republican push in Texas is part of a broader effort by the GOP across the country to keep control of its razor-thin House majority in the 2026 midterms. A super PAC supporting Paxton's primary challenge is showcasing his efforts in the redistricting battle. Senator John Cornyn has successfully urged the FBI to track down fleeing Texas Democratic state lawmakers.
Politics reporter Paul Steinhauser, who covers the campaign trail from coast to coast, is closely following the developments in Texas. The outcome of this investigation and the Senate race could have significant implications for the political landscape in Texas and beyond.
[1] https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/27/beto-orourke-ken-paxton-lawsuit/ [2] https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/28/texas-redistricting-fight-beto-orourke-ken-paxton/ [3] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ken-paxton-files-lawsuit-against-beto-orourke-over-fundraising-allegations-n1276540 [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/27/texas-ken-paxton-files-lawsuit-against-beto-orourke-over-fundraising-allegations/ [5] https://www.dallasnews.com/politics/texas-legislature/2021/07/28/beto-orourke-sues-ken-paxton-over-investigation-into-his-political-group/
- The ongoing investigation between Ken Paxton and Beto O'Rourke involving politics, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice, centers around accusations of allegedly operating an unlawful fundraising scheme for quorum-breaking Texas House Democrats.
- The redistricting showdown in Texas, a significant event in general-news, is also intertwined with policy-and-legislation, as the investigation could have major implications for the political landscape not only within Texas but beyond.
- In the midst of the Texas Senate race, political journalist Paul Steinhauser has been closely following the developments between Ken Paxton and Beto O'Rourke, providing updates on war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice, for various media outlets across the country.
