EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, did not join about 50 other Democrats who fled out of state to break quorum and prevent a vote on a controversial Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan.
Instead, Moody said his role is to stay in Austin and he “won’t quit fighting fascism.”
Moody said that the GOP redistricting plan, requested by President Donald Trump, would add five more Republican seats to Congress.
Monday, Aug. 4, Moody appeared at the state Capitol, made a motion that confirmed the lack of quorum and then voted against a Republican move to issue arrest warrants for absent Democrats.
The Texas House voted Monday to track down and arrest more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were not present when the chamber gaveled in, the Texas Tribune reported.
After the 85-6 vote, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he would immediately sign civil warrants for each of the legislators, empowering the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol, according to reporting done by the Texas Tribune.
Moody said he will be staying in Austin and continuing the fight there.
“The best way I can fight back is at the Capitol, which is why I’ve chosen to stay now that quorum has been broken. I’ll be looking my Republican colleagues in the eyes and asking them to look into their souls: They know this is wrong,” Moody said in a statement.
Here is what Moody had to say in its entirety:
“I fought these corrupt maps in committee and will continue fighting them every chance I get. Republicans aren’t even hiding it — they’ve admitted these maps are meant to silence voices and votes. Trump is destroying our economy, our communities, and our way of life to serve himself, so he knows he’ll lose Congress if he doesn’t cheat. And now the governor is threatening to arrest and remove elected representatives who are using legal, legitimate ways to stand against that.
“All of that is the playbook of dictators, not American leaders. And they confirm that we’re at war for our democracy.
“I support my fellow Democrats who’ve left the state to protect all Texans’ votes. But there are many battles on many fronts in a war. The best way I can fight back is at the Capitol, which is why I’ve chosen to stay now that quorum has been broken. I’ll be looking my Republican colleagues in the eyes and asking them to look into their souls: They know this is wrong.
“As for the governor’s threats, while Trump is trying to steal a future election with his maps, our governor wants to steal elections that already happened last year. It’s not just immoral — it’s illegal. He can’t declare vacancies, absolutely can’t fill them, and no honest person could claim a legislative tactic long used by both sides is a crime. It’s disgusting, fascist nonsense.
“We need a democracy that works for the people again, one we can all trust. I won’t quit fighting fascism on all fronts until that dream is a reality again.”
We have reached out to the El Paso County Republican Party for comment.
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