Democrats have cast the agenda as a ploy to shore up conservative voters ahead of 2022, when Gov. Greg Abbott is up for reelection. Already, the two-term governor has drawn two primary challengers.
“That’s what Abbott should be focused on, not his next primary election, not to pandering to Donald Trump and his extremist base,” said Democratic state Rep. Chris Turner, chairman of the House Democratic caucus. “He ought to be working for the people of Texas.”
Under the new voting legislation filed by both the House and Senate, GOP lawmakers continued a push to ban the soliciting of mail ballot applications by an election clerk — efforts that began in Harris County, which includes Houston and is the state's largest Democratic stronghold. The new bills also revive expanded rights to poll watchers.
Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, the author of May's blocked voting legislation, declined to comment on the special session's approach to voting laws. The new House voting bill is being carried by Republican state Rep. Andrew Murr, who did not respond to an interview request Thursday.
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