WASHINGTON — Texas Democrats in Washington call their efforts to stop a GOP-backed elections bill the "fight of their lives," but they did not exactly plan on fighting COVID-19. 

So far, six Democrats remain in quarantine after contracting the virus. Despite these positive COVID-19 cases, they are pressing ahead with the push for federal voting rights protections and meeting with anyone in the nation's capital willing to listen or offer up strategies. They might return to Austin if there are concessions made by their Republican colleagues, but after hearing from House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, it does not seem likely.

Last week, Texas Democrats met with congressional lawmakers and even Vice President Kamala Harris in person, but this week not so much. Tuesday morning, Democrats spoke virtually with U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. They did so because confirmed COVID-19 cases are forcing them to change their plans. 

A fully vaccinated White House official and an aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi tested positive as well after interacting with Texas Democrats.

“We're praying for them as well, but that same day that broke out is the same day that I offered the flight home," Phelan told Capital Tonight. "It's up to my colleagues when they want to come back to work. We're ready and willing and able to do that. Obviously, we're sitting here day in, day out.”

Most Texas Democrats in Washington said they will not be returning to Texas anytime soon. 

Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, sits on the select House committee that listened through the marathon hearing on the elections bill. She said she is disappointed all of the Democrats' latest suggested changes to the bill were rejected in a party-line vote. Johnson said those proposals were meant to address the concerns brought up during hours and hours of the hearing. 

“More people voted in 2020 than ever before, because of access. More eligible voters voted, and that's what they're restricting," she said. "That's a prime example of a simple thing that we asked for. Hey, let's just give larger jurisdictions with more population the opportunity to have more hours at about [ballot] box open, and it got shut down.”

Phelan argues Democrats were not shut out considering a few Democrat-written tweaks remain in the newest House version of the bill. He said the bill’s author is also open to listening to amendments that were perhaps not taken up in committee.  

“There's been ample opportunities to debate the bill, ample opportunities to go through changes that we both can agree on," Phelan said. "Now maybe not everyone in the Democratic caucus has had those opportunities, but that's not my fault or responsibility. We ask members to come in who had worked on the bill all through session to work on it again, and they did."

While Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda includes largely red-meat items, Republicans are using the opportunity to further criticize the Democrats decamped in Washington by saying they are delaying a changes to the foster care system and a 13th check for retired teachers.

"I co-sponsored the 13th check, in the regular session, we had plenty of time to pass 13th check. It was the Republicans and the calendars committee that didn't bring it up for a vote. Rather than bringing 13th check up, they brought up permitless carry, they brought up the ban on abortion," Johnson said.