Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the political organization Powered by People, led by former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, over allegations that it may have violated bribery, campaign finance, and abuse of office laws by supporting Texas House Democrats in blocking a Republican-led congressional redistricting plan. The group, reportedly funding the out-of-state travel of Democrats to prevent quorum, is accused by Paxton of undermining the legislative process. However, the report has not been independently confirmed by major outlets such as POLITICO.
O’Rourke, who has been vocal about opposing the gerrymandering efforts, criticized Pax, calling the investigation a political move to target Democrats. Paxton, who is also in a primary race against Sen. John Cornyn, has vowed to seek the expulsion of Democratic lawmakers who fled the state, attempting to prevent the passing of a gerrymandered map that could secure five additional House seats for Republicans. The governor, Greg Abbott, has also taken steps to force Democrats back to the state for the special session, though legal challenges persist.
Underlying the tensions is the broader struggle over redistricting, which significantly impacts the electoral landscape. Republicans aim to secure a favorable map that could bolster their majority in the House, while Democrats seek to preserve fair representation. The quorum break, where Democrats left the state to block the session, highlights the deep ideological divide and the lengths to which each side is willing to go to achieve their objectives. The situation has ignited intense political discourse, with both sides accusing each other of obstruction and illegitimate actions.