Fleeing Texas lawmakers beg Congress to pass voter protections

"More than fifty Democratic members of the Texas House have left Texas to stop Republicans from passing the latest iteration of their voter-suppression legislation," said Chris Turner, who chairs the Texas Democratic state house caucus.

Turner was joined by other Texas Democrats outside the U.S. Capitol to make the case for a federal voting rights bill that would expand access to voting.

Texas Democratic lawmakers staged a similar walkout on May 30 to boycott a vote on an earlier version of the voting legislation just before the legislature's regular session ended, prompting Republican Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session.

"We are happy to work on bipartisan proposals that expand the right to vote, that make it easier to vote and harder to cheat," said Texas state Democratic representative Rafael Anchía.

"None of the ammendments offered by my colleagues were considered in committee," he said.

Texas is one of a number of Republican-led states pushing new voting restrictions in the name of enhancing election security, citing former President Donald Trump's false claims that his November election defeat was the result of widespread fraud.

Democrats and election experts say the proposed changes would disproportionately affect minorities of color that lean Democratic.

It's not clear how long this tactic will work. Texas can order lawmakers under penalty of arrest to return to the state.

"We can't stay here indefinitely to run out the clock to stop Republican anti-voter bills. That's why we need Congress to act now," said Democratic Texas state representative Rhetta Bowers.

Before taking questions, the assembled lawmakers sang a chorus of "We Shall Overcome," an anthem of the 1960's civil rights and voting rights struggles.