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BY ROXY SZAL | Thursday, July 8, marked the start of the special legislative session in Texas. Calling a special session is already unusual, and in particular, the agenda for this session—set in this case by Gov. Greg Abbott (R)—is considered by many to be a Republican wishlist, tackling wedge issues like voting rights, trans rights, medication abortion and border security, and shirking issues like the state’s crumbling electrical grid.
Despite powerful testimony during weekend hearings through the night on House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 1—extreme pieces of election legislation that would ban drive-thru and 24-hour voting options and further restrict the state’s vote-by-mail rules—both House and Senate committees voted to advance the election bills, rejecting every amendment offered by Democrats. That left Democrats at a crossroads: Should we stay or should we go?
Ultimately, over 50 Texas Democrats opted on Monday to leave the state en masse to prevent a quorum in the House and to freeze the bills from advancing through the chambers. On Tuesday, lawmakers remaining in Texas passed a motion designating the out-of-state Democrats to be “legislative fugitives” and asking that “the sergeant at arms, or officers appointed by him, send for all absentees … under warrant of arrest if necessary.”
One of those “fugitive” Democrats is Texas state Representative Erin Zwiener (D)—a mother to a 3-year-old daughter named Lark, as well as a creative writing teacher and life-long environmentalist. Due to very real child care constraints, Zwiener faced an impossible choice: Do I flee the state with or without my child?
Being a mother in the public eye is a strong part of Zwiener’s identity: Elected in 2018, she unseated former incumbent Republican Jason Isaac and campaigned while pregnant, then gave birth while in office. Ultimately, on Monday, Zwiener opted to bring Lark with her while she makes history and flees the state.
Zwiener joined Ms. to discuss how these drastic measures relate to Texas Democrats’ overall strategy, and how their quick exit affected her as a wife, parent and legislator.
The interview was real and honest: Throughout the 30-minute call, Zwiener switched back and forth between mothering and soothing Lark—who despite being confused and jetlagged, is a “trooper,” says Zwiener—and answering questions about the urgent mission in Washington, D.C., to secure the right to vote for all Texans.
(To read the full article, click here.)
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