TEXAS DEMOCRATS WALK OUT ON ELECTION BILL

  

Texas Democrats posed a dramatic, walkout in the state House of Representatives Sunday night to block passage of election bill, leaving Republicans with no choice but to abandon a midnight deadline and declare the legislative session essentially over.

The revolt is one of Democrats’ biggest protests to date against GOP efforts to impose stricter election laws, and urging President Joe Biden to act on voting rights.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who had declared new voting laws a priority, quickly announced he would order a special session to finish the job. He called the failure of the bill “deeply disappointing” but did not say when he would drag lawmakers back to Austin.