WASHINGTON — Texas Republicans call their Democratic colleagues’ decampment in Washington an abandonment or a vacation. But the members of the minority party said their pursuit of federal voting rights legislation is far from it. They fled the state legislature, leaving behind family members and professional obligations as they hunker down in the nation’s capital.
Sometimes official business in Washington can be a family affair, and that becomes a balancing act. State Rep. Erin Zweiner, D-Driftwood, brought her 3-year-old daughter Lark along for the weeks-long stay, which includes sitting down for meetings with U.S. senators.
“She's been a real champ about playing on the side of the meetings with her sticker book or Legos. She’s got flip cards she loves with the alphabet. Definitely, if we're going to sustain this for three weeks, we need to find a little bit more of a rhythm,” Zweiner told Capital Tonight while she was playing with Lark in their hotel room.
Zweiner said she did not want to be away from her daughter either, and there were not any child care options that worked with her husband’s schedule back home.
“It's not particularly easy. I've spent a good chunk of time this morning trying to look for some short-term child care options for her just so she has some, some space to hang out with other kids,” she said.
Rep. Celia Israel, D- Austin, and her partner of 26 years were scheduled to be married on the Texas House floor Thursday, which was also her birthday.
“She said, ‘You know what, this is our family. This is what we do. Now is not the right time. This is happening for a reason,’” Israel said. “I didn't think I could love her any more, but I love her even more. She just was so understanding about it all this is. This is important. This is a big deal.”
Loved ones do remain top of mind as state lawmakers juggle also having to work remotely on their full-time jobs. Israel, a realtor who has been meeting with clients on the trip, said the reality of being far from Texas is setting in.
“We're here for a number of weeks, but it's good that we're with friends and with my legislative family. We care for each other a lot, and we're going to take care of each other,” Israel said.
Rep. John Bucy, D-Cedar Park, knew with his family back Central Texas, he would be tempted to go back before the special session ends. Bucy was a part of the marathon hearing into the latest version of the elections bill, and was talking to his wife about fleeing to Washington.
“I knew the biggest challenge for me would be missing my daughter, and so my wife and daughter were troopers. At the last minute, they agreed to hop in the car, we made the 23-hour drive. Having them here, you know, gives me encouragement and strength,” Bucy said.
While they have left their families and job obligations, and face criticism from Republicans over their extreme measures, Texas lawmakers believe their sacrifices are validated.
“These meetings have been incredibly inspiring and hopeful. I've left every single one of them with more hope that we can get legislation passed at a federal level. I'm sure it will be a compromise, like all pieces of legislation are,” Bucy said.
Bucy and his Democratic colleagues are also thinking about future generations. In less than 20 years, Zwiener’s daughter will be able to vote, so having Lark around serves as a reminder.
“We are in a fight to preserve American democracy, and I want to make sure it's still here when she's old enough to vote, I want her vote to be meaningful,” Zweiner said.