Judge Blocks Beto O’Rourke’s Financial Support for Out-of-State Texas Democrats

A Tarrant County judge has issued a temporary injunction barring former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and his political organization, Powered by People, from financially supporting Texas Democrats who left the state to prevent a new congressional map from passing. The ruling, handed down Friday evening, came less than four hours after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit alleging deceptive fundraising practices and illegal support for the out-of-state legislators.

Judge Megan Fahey, a Republican appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, sided with Paxton, agreeing that Powered by People’s actions either directly violated or caused Texas Democratic Legislators to violate state law and House procedures. The injunction specifically prohibits the group from using political funds for travel or accommodations for “unexcused Texas legislators during any special legislative session called by the Texas Governor as consideration for a violation of such legislators’ Constitutional duties.”

O’Rourke has vehemently denied the allegations, filing his own lawsuit against Paxton in El Paso district court, accusing the Attorney General of a “fishing expedition.” In response to the injunction, O’Rourke stated Paxton was attempting to “make examples out of those who fight so that others won’t,” asserting that Paxton seeks to shut down Powered by People due to its voter registration efforts. Paxton, meanwhile, celebrated the ruling on social media, declaring, “The Beto Bribe buyouts that were bankrolling the runaway Democrats have been officially stopped.”

This legal battle is part of a larger, aggressive effort by Texas Republicans to compel the return of Democratic lawmakers who fled to states like Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York. Their departure was a tactic to deny the Texas House the necessary quorum to pass a new congressional map, which Republicans aim to redraw to create up to five additional GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 midterms, as reportedly demanded by former President Donald Trump. Republicans have pursued various legal avenues, including lawsuits to cut off financial support, requests for Illinois courts to enforce civil warrants, investigations into members and donors for bribery, and even an unprecedented request to the Texas Supreme Court to expel the absentee lawmakers.

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