Texas judge dismisses Paxton lawsuit targeting Democratic voter registration
AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to block a voter registration drive in one of his state's most populous urban counties — and biggest Democratic strongholds — has failed in state district court.
On Monday, State District Judge Antonia Arteaga dismissed the Republican attorney general's lawsuit against Bexar County, the home of San Antonio.
Paxton’s suit was part of a broader GOP campaign against Democratic voter registration efforts as the Senate and presidential races have tightened in Texas — a campaign marked by false claims and conspiracy theories of a grand Democratic plot to steal the election with a wave of ballots cast by voters who are in the country illegally.
Texas Democrats earlier this month called on the Department of Justice to investigate Paxton over the action that kicked off this campaign: searches of Latino and Democrat activists and a candidate in counties surrounding Bexar.
In the latest fight, Bexar County had proposed to send out registration forms to unregistered voters — something Paxton argued was outside of the scope of the county’s legal powers.
Judge Arteaga ruled Paxton’s suit was moot, because the county had already sent out the voter registration forms, The Texas Tribune reported.
That upheld the argument of Bexar County, whose assistant district attorney argued that those unregistered voters targeted by the county had already “received those forms, and perhaps have already returned them.”
Paxton cried foul Monday night, arguing Bexar had expedited the registration forms to get ahead of his lawsuit.
“In a display of bad faith, Bexar County engaged in dirty tricks to avoid appropriate judicial review of a clearly unlawful program that invites voter fraud,” the attorney general said in a statement.
“These actions demonstrate that Bexar County knew what they were doing was wrong, yet expedited the mailout of unsolicited registration forms before the issue could be argued in court."
Paxton has appealed the decision.
With the Senate race in Texas appearing tight — Democratic Rep. Colin Allred has repeatedly polled within the margin of error against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R) — the election could come down to registration.
In 2020, less than 80 percent of Texas’s voting age population registered to vote, and just more than half of eligible voters cast a ballot, according to state data.
A deadline looms over both sides: Less than three weeks remain to register Texas voters for the election to come.
Date: |
-
The Hill - Politics
Travis County sues Ken Paxton over widening Texas crackdown on voter registration
The fight over voter registration in Texas Democratic-leaning cities is heating up. In Tuesday, Travis County sued Texas state officials — including right-wing Attorney General Ken Paxton — over ...15 hours ago -
ESPN - Sports
Judge dismisses federal lawsuit against Dolan
A judge on Tuesday dismissed a federal lawsuit filed by a woman who accused James Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden and governor of the Knicks and Rangers, of unwanted sex nearly a decade ago.12 hours ago -
CBS Sports - Sports
Judge dismisses lawsuit accusing Knicks owner James Dolan of sexual assault, sex trafficking
The lawsuit was originally filed in January and stemmed from several alleged incidents in 2013 and 201411 hours ago -
ABC News - Sports
Judge dismisses an assault lawsuit against Knicks owner James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein
A U.S. district judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit against New York Knicks owner James Dolan alleging sexual assault a decade ago6 hours ago -
ABC News - Entertainment
Judge dismisses an assault lawsuit against Knicks owner James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein
A U.S. district judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit against New York Knicks owner James Dolan alleging sexual assault a decade ago8 hours ago -
NBC News - Top stories
Trump and Harris had 'cordial' call following apparent assassination attempt
Trump to hold first public event since apparent assassination attemptYesterday - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Obama goes to TikTok to push voter registration
Former President Obama is pulling out all the stops on National Voter Registration Day to expand the Democratic Party's reach, including appealing to younger voters through a partnership with ...Yesterday - Tiktok -
The Hill - Politics
Harris campaign focuses on youth voters on National Voter Registration Day
The Harris campaign is launching a week of action aimed at turning out younger voters coinciding with National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday. Vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ...Yesterday -
Yahoo News - World
German court dismisses AfD lawsuits over Bundestag committee chairs
20 hours ago - Germany
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
US has worst healthcare system among wealthy nations, survey says
The United States healthcare system was deemed the worst overall in a new analysis of 10 similar nations by a leading health research nonprofit. "Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing ...2 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Marist polls: Harris leads Trump in Michigan, Wisconsin; they're tied in Pennsylvania
Vice President Kamala Harris is leading former President Donald Trump by 5 points in Michigan, is leading slightly in Wisconsin, and is tied in Pennsylvania, according to new Marist battleground ...2 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
These 3 Dems, 14 Republicans crossed aisle on funding bill vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) government funding bill was sunk through the combined efforts of Democrats and Republicans in the lower chamber on Wednesday. Fourteen members of Johnson’s own ...3 hours ago - Republican Party -
The Hill - Politics
Trump vows to travel to Springfield following false pet-eating claims
Former President Trump pledged to travel to Springfield, Ohio, after false claims that he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), have made about Haitian immigrants eating pets in the city. ...4 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Republican Arizona county chair endorses Democrat to replace him
The Republican chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona has endorsed a Democrat to replace him. "I am endorsing Joel [Navarro] because he is a man of integrity, because he is a ...5 hours ago