Unprecedented request: 13 Texas Dems face removal fight in court

 

Friday, August 8

The latest in Texas’ ongoing redistricting battle Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is asking the Texas Supreme Court to remove 13 Democrats from office, days after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) filed a similar petition.  Rep. Gene Wu (D), the sole target of Abbott’s lawsuit, filed a response calling the governor’s effort an “unprecedented request” to remove an elected member of the Texas House of Representatives using the judiciary. Paxton also sued former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) for funding quorum-breaking Democrats, arguing O'Rourke's efforts are unlawful, constitute bribery and are being used to support the quorum-breaking Democrats’ personal expenses. Yesterday, Paxton asked an Illinois court to order the arrest of House Democrats who left the state to block the GOP from gerrymandering a new congressional map. Paxton filed his lawsuit in a heavily Republican area within the Democratic-led state.

Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer fled the state to break quorum and stop the GOP power grab. He sat down with Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias for a conversation you won’t want to miss. Premium members get the full written version this Sunday. Upgrade now.

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After Trump’s demand for a ‘new’ census, Commerce Department signals intent to infer citizenship figures from existing data Despite President Donald Trump’s calls for a new census using 2024 election data and excluding noncitizens, the Commerce Department suggested it would not conduct a mid-decade census but would use existing data to count the U.S. population without unlawful immigrants. DOJ subpoenas New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office  The Department of Justice issued two subpoenas against the office of New York Attorney General Letita James, who previously sued Trump for faulty business practices. The subpoenas mark an escalation in the president’s use of the justice system against his political opponents.  We need a long term opposition movement, not a short term resistance movement Marc joined Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” to discuss Trump’s sinking support stemming from his continued mishandling of the Epstein controversy and the redistricting battles being ignited nationwide.  Coming up Monday Trial begins in California Gov. Gavin Newsom's lawsuit challenging Trump's use of the national guard in Los Angeles. In SCOTUS the RNC's response is due in Mississippi’s ballot receipt deadline appeal. The state is asking the court to review the 5th Circuit decision invalidating its post-election day ballot receipt deadline. The case has nationwide implications for several states with similar laws. AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS Michigan protects military and overseas voting rights The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the rights of military and overseas civilian voters — including voters who inherit voting rights through their parents — to cast absentee ballots under landmark federal voting rights law. The ruling shuts down a GOP-backed effort to toss these ballots, safeguarding the voices of service members and families living abroad against partisan voter suppression. Federal courts preserve Black voter representation in Alabama through 2030 A three-judge federal panel ordered Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map with a second Black-majority congressional district — and barred the state from drawing new maps until after the 2030 Census. The ruling ensures continued representation for Black communities and keeps Alabama out of the GOP’s ongoing redistricting scramble. Seattle reaffirms ‘democracy voucher’ program Seattle voters approved Proposition 1, extending the city’s first-in-the-nation Democracy Voucher Program for another decade. The program gives residents four $25 vouchers to support local candidates, boosting small-donor participation — especially among lower-income voters and communities of color — and reducing reliance on big-money donors. Ninth Circuit reins in discriminatory ICE tactics A federal appeals court upheld a ban on ICE and DHS detaining people in seven California counties based solely on race, language, location or occupation. By forcing agents to show reasonable suspicion before making stops, the ruling curbs discriminatory enforcement tactics and sets precedent for all states within the Ninth Circuit’s jurisdiction — the most populous court circuit in the U.S.