July 20, 2025
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
Texas House Democrats are now openly signaling their intent to potentially break quorum during the upcoming special session.
The Texas House Democrat Caucus has launched a new website, which accuses Republicans of attempting to “exploit tragedy to silence Texas voters” through a redistricting effort included on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda. The website declares that Democrats are “preparing our members to use every tool available—including breaking quorum if necessary.”
With 62 Democrats in the 150-member Texas House, that means at least 50 would need to break quorum to deny the chamber of it’s two-thirds requirement to conduct business.
The rhetoric echoes recent comments from national Democrats, including U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who this week accused Abbott and Republicans of using redistricting to “rig the Texas congressional map” instead of focusing on recovery from the devastating Hill Country floods.
President Donald Trump has called for new maps to produce five additional Republican congressional seats in Texas.
Adding fuel to the fire, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, penned an op-ed saying, “I am ready, willing, and able to get into good trouble by breaking quorum when justice is on the line.”
The Texas Legislature is set to convene for a special session tomorrow, July 21. If Democrats follow through on their threat to flee the state, it would mark the third time in two decades—and the second in four years—that they’ve attempted to halt the legislative process over redistricting or election legislation.
The question now turns to whether Republicans, and Gov. Abbott, will respond differently this time.
Featured
HOUSTON—In an exclusive interview at a sparsely attended “Good Trouble Lives On” protest, Mandy Giles, founder of Parents of Trans Youth, revealed that non-governmental organizations are assisting in transporting Texas children to New Mexico and other states for “gender-affirming” treatments banned in the Lone Star State.
Giles, speaking to Texas Scorecard, emphasized that these efforts avoid using taxpayer funds to evade any “strings attached.”
Real Texans
In this week’s edition of Real Texans, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham talks with us about what drew her into medicine ... and public office.
We talk about the Alamo, the border, and the importance of civic engagement.
New interviews with REAL TEXANS every Sunday!
State
Internal Texas A&M Email Advising Aggies To Report ICE Sightings Triggers Backlash
Provost Alan Sams asks faculty, staff, and graduate students to call university police if federal law enforcement is seen on campus.
Texas AG Investigates Mars Company for Deceptive Practices Over Artificial Dyes
Ken Paxton is encouraging Mars to “fulfill its 2016 pledge to get rid of these toxic ingredients.”
Hemp-derived THC Classification Battle Reaches Texas Supreme Court
While Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick battle over the ban, a THC ruling is looming.
Local
Texas Counties Have Exploited a ‘Disaster Loophole’ to Hike Taxes
A new law going into effect next year could change that.
Lorena ISD Trustees Reject Another Retaliation Complaint From Mom of Special-Needs Student
Mom Wendy Harding accuses school administrators of retaliating against her after she advocated for her child.
Firefighters Union Votes ‘No-Confidence’ in Austin Fire Chief
Austin firefighters voted in favor of the no-confidence resolution on Friday.
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