AUSTIN, Texas — Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, joined his fellow Democrats during back-to-back meetings with congressional lawmakers in Washington, but now he is back in Texas. The Houston Democrat said he is taking care of his sister, who is undergoing chemotherapy. Dutton said he left Washington over the weekend to see her in Houston.

“She's more prone to infection, and so I didn't think I could go back to Washington, D.C., particularly if I was going to go back and hang out with our delegation, my delegation,” Dutton told Capital Tonight.

Dutton said he is taking the time to talk to his Republican colleagues about his concerns with the current form of the elections bill. He said he believes the measures seem benign, but fears, in practice, it disproportionately affects voters of color. Harris noted how in Harris County, minority voters largely used 24-hour voting and drive-thru voting.

“Let me go back to Austin, and talk to the sponsor of the bill, and see if — He's calling me right now, as a matter of fact, about our meeting,” Dutton said as he was getting a call during the interview from the proposed law’s author, Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction.

Dutton is not the only Democrat back in town. Rep. Phil Cortez, D-San Antonio, returned to try and work out a compromise with Murr. In a statement, Murr said the two will likely never see eye-to-eye. Even so, he respects Cortez’ right to fight for his district. 

Speaking to journalists virtually, Rep. Jim Murphy, R-Houston, who is also chair of the House Republican Caucus, said he expects more members to return.

“We need to get 100 on the floor, so we're getting closer every day,” Murphy said. “You can't show up on day 30 and get our work done. You need to be here well in advance.”

Democratic senators are also back in town after fleeing to Washington to stand in solidarity with House members. 

“You may see my Republican brother and sisters, the only way you can stop something and message something to the rest of this state, nation is to walk out. Republicans have done it in Oregon in the last year, so let's lower voices, as I raised mine,” Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said at a news conference at the State Capitol.

The state’s Republican leadership continues to disagree with these dramatic measures and urge the rest of the Democrats to come back.

“To completely lie about what's going on and to misrepresent about what the bill does, causes them to lose credibility in the Capitol, it makes it even more difficult for the members of the legislature to work with them,” Gov. Greg Abbott said.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggested that the law needs to change requiring two-third of lawmakers in each chamber to make a quorum. Patrick said he thinks it is something Texans would get behind. During the regular session, the GOP-led Senate voted to tweak rules that needed a supermajority to advance legislation.

“You can’t have — Republicans or Democrats — either party holding democracy hostage because they’re losing on an issue,” Patrick said.

As for Dutton, he believes while he is on the House floor, there are still reasons for the other Democrats to stay in D.C.

“Until we get some modicum of resolution to the issues that we're trying to have addressed, I think they need to be there, but on the other hand, I think that now that I'm here, I think I can better utilize my time,” Dutton said.

And time is running out on this special legislative session.