by Thomas Catenacci
The number of coronavirus infections among Democratic lawmakers who fled to Texas to stall a voting reform bill increased over the weekend.
At least five members of the Democratic delegation have tested positive for the virus, a person familiar told the Associated Press. The Texas House Democratic Caucus announced three of the lawmakers had tested positive as of Friday, but said the entire group had been fully vaccinated.
“This morning, I received a positive COVID-19 rapid antigen test result. I am fully vaccinated, and had tested negative on Friday and Saturday,” Democratic State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer tweeted Sunday night. “I am quarantining until I test negative, and I am grateful to be only experiencing extremely mild symptoms.”
ON PLANE TO DC: Texas Democratic lawmakers are leaving state to break quorum to stop Republican voting bill. Veteran Capitol observers say this is unchartered territory. Photo from Democrat on the plane. https://t.co/YOuOMb0A2m pic.twitter.com/abWoARvFIC
— ScottGordonNBC5 (@ScottGordonNBC5) July 12, 2021
Fischer added that the new coronavirus variants were aggressively sweeping the nation similar to how “anti-voter legislation” is sweeping the nation. Despite the rising number of cases among the delegation, he doubled down on their efforts in Washington, D.C.
Nearly 60 Democrats left Texas for the nation’s capital last week to prevent a vote on multiple Republican bills including one reforming election security. Departing the state prevented the legislature from reaching the required two-thirds quorum necessary to hold any vote.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott slammed the move, saying the fleeing lawmakers had abandoned their responsibilities. But the Texas lawmakers were applauded by Capitol Hill Democrats and met with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss voting reform.
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Thomas Catenacci is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Texas House Democrats” by Texas House Democrats
