Former United States Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s political motion committee, Powered by Individuals, has been a key funder of Texas Democrats of their mission to depart their dwelling state in hopes of stopping Republicans from implementing a new Congressional map that they view as rigged.
Powered by Individuals, a voter registration and mobilization group, has been donating to the Texas Home Democratic Caucus — not members straight, or for any line-item expense — to assist cowl upfront prices for the group, comparable to lodging and transportation, an O’Rourke spokesperson instructed ABC Information.
Beto O’Rourke speaks throughout a rally to protest in opposition to redistricting hearings on the Texas Capitol, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Picture/Eric Homosexual)
Eric Homosexual/AP
O’Rourke has been in common contact with Home Democrats since President Donald Trump prompt that Texas Republicans shift five congressional districts of their favor. Powered by Individuals has been placing funds apart since Trump’s directive, and O’Rourke assured the caucus within the weeks main as much as the potential vote, in the event that they wished to depart the state, they might have his help, each in rhetoric and money.
“We could have the backs of those heroic state lawmakers for so long as it takes to cease Trump’s energy seize,” O’Rourke mentioned in a press release to ABC Information.
O’Rourke has been sounding the alarm on the ramifications of the brand new maps — and the price of thwarting them — as he is been touring the nation on his city corridor tour. The previous presidential, gubernatorial and senate candidate made a name for donations throughout his occasion Monday night time in Kansas Metropolis and did the identical Tuesday in Omaha.
The O’Rourke spokesperson, who famous that O’Rourke’s donor pool reaches all the best way again to his 2018 Senate bid, mentioned the group plans to launch particulars on how a lot they have been in a position to fundraise to assist help the quorum break efforts sooner or later.
This money is essential at a time when members are dealing with threats of arrest and expulsion. Dozens of members are racking up payments from their travels to stay outdoors of state boundaries to keep away from getting picked up by state authorities for no less than the following two weeks, however presumably longer, till the top of this particular session.
Although they could have to carry out far longer, as Gov. Greg Abbott may name one more session quickly after. Members additionally face the potential for incurring hefty authorized charges if Abbott and Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton’s punitive threats develop.
A spokesperson for the Home Democratic Caucus instructed ABC Information that “members are extremely grateful for the outpouring of help from residents throughout Texas and the nation who stand with them.”
And so they reiterated that the trouble is being expensed legally.
Abbott has ordered the Texas Rangers to analyze Democratic members for “potential bribery and every other potential authorized violations” tied to their journeys out of state.
“Each dime of expense for this effort is being paid for lawfully,” the Home Democratic Caucus spokesperson mentioned, and accused Paxton of corruption as a substitute.
“Texans know what actual political corruption seems like. They noticed it when Ken Paxton took million-dollar ‘presents’ to fend off the results of his prison indictments and rig his impeachment trial,” the Home Democratic Caucus spokesperson continued.
Paxton was impeached in Could 2023 over claims he had misused his energy to help a buddy and donor. He denied all of the allegations, calling them on the time a partisan “sham.”
He known as the following impeachment proceedings an “ugly spectacle,” adding that they had been “by no means meant to be truthful or simply.” The Texas Senate acquitted Paxton in September 2023.
Home guidelines prohibit members from utilizing marketing campaign accounts to cowl a $500-per-day superb every day they are not at work. It is unclear how, if in any respect, outdoors cash can be utilized to assist cowl the penalties.
