Judge blocks Beto O'Rourke from providing financial support to Texas Democrats who fled state over redistricting

Source: NBC News

Aug. 8, 2025, 8:41 PM EDT


A Texas district judge on Friday temporarily barred former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and his political group from helping to fund the Democratic legislators who have left the state to prevent Republicans from pressing forward with a redistricting plan aimed at expanding the GOP's narrow majority in the U.S. House.

The ruling is a victory, albeit potentially a temporary one, for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sought the temporary restraining order accusing O'Rourke and his group of a bribery scheme, accusations the Democrat has vigorously denied. And it could deal a significant financial blow to the state Democratic lawmakers, who are facing financial penalties and other costs related to their "quorum break."

Tarrant County District Court Judge Megan Fahey, who was appointed in 2019 by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and has since won re-election (Texas elects its judges), wrote in Friday's order that she believes O'Rourke and his group "have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds" that either violates or causes the Democrats to violate state law and House rules.

Evoking the almost 200-year-old Texas refrain "Come and Take It," Paxton celebrated the ruling in a statement. "Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to ‘come and take it,’ so I did,'" said Paxton, who is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for his Senate seat in next year's GOP primary.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/beto-orourke-blocked-financially-supporting-texas-democrats-fled-state-rcna224002