The Texas state lawmakers who fled to Washington, D.C. instead of remaining in Austin and doing their job are getting some support from other Democrat legislators today. The Texas Democrats realize they have failed epically to inspire the Senate to act by voting on the For the People Act. They have been ridiculed on social media for some bone-headed moves and one of the group’s leaders was exposed for her basic ignorance of voting demographics in Texas during a Congressional hearing. The Texas Democrats have turned their political stunt into a COVID-19 super spreader event. So, naturally, about 100 Democrat legislators from other states are showing up to rally with them as though this is all normal behavior.

Lawmakers from about 30 states are participating in a “Week of Action”. They demand that Biden and the Senate “do whatever it takes to immediately pass the For the People Act.” And they call for the Senate to stay in session until the For the People Act is passed. Good luck with any of that. By saying “do whatever it takes” the Democrats signal that they don’t care if it is a single-party vote that federalizes elections in this country and provides a permanent Democrat majority. This isn’t about voting rights and combatting alleged voter suppression, this is all a naked grab for power. The Democrats do not have the votes in the Senate to pass the For the People Act and they do not have the votes to end the filibuster, which they need to pass the bill with single-party support. Democrats know that if this isn’t accomplished before the mid-term elections, it will likely languish. Democrats have control of Congress and the White House now but in 2022 that is expected to change. It is very likely that Republicans will take back control of the House in the mid-term elections and perhaps the Senate, too.

“The freedom to vote is under unprecedented attack by extremist lawmakers in states across the country, including in Arizona,” Arizona state Rep. Jennifer Longdon (D) said in a statement.

“Every Democrat in the US Senate should feel urgency to pass legislation protecting the right to vote. We’re here to demand the Senate deliver the For the People Act, even if that means delaying recess. Recess can wait – but our democracy can’t,” she added.

Apparently, Democrats from other states are repeating the same, disproved DNC talking points that the Texas Democrats memorized. What elected official would look at the example provided by Texas Democrats and think that their playbook is a winning one?

It is imperative that the For the People Act fail to pass in the Senate. There is plenty to object to in the bill.

The bill calls for requiring states to offer mail-in ballots and a minimum of 15 days of early voting, and it calls for online and same-day voter registration. It also aims to create an independent commission to draw congressional districts as a way to end partisan gerrymandering.

The bill would also establish additional resources to prevent foreign threats on elections and enable automatic voter registration. It also calls for making Election Day a federal holiday.

Perhaps Democrats can put these demands into practice in Joe Biden’s home state, the state in which he votes. Delaware does not offer early voting days at all, for example. Texas has two weeks of early voting.

The action was organized by Declaration for American Democracy, a coalition of activist groups supporting the For the People Act. It comes as other groups have stepped up efforts to call attention to voting rights in the hope of spurring Congress and the White House to act. Fair Fight Action and CAP Action are flying in 40 voters to appeal to senators, and the Poor People’s Campaign, led by the Rev. William J. Barber II, has scheduled a nonviolent demonstration in Washington on Monday. Several political and civic groups led by Black women have held weekly demonstrations at the Hart Senate Office Building, and several activists and three members of Congress have been arrested.

The name of Rev. Barber may be familiar. He and Beto O’Rourke participated in a 1965-style march to Austin last week. Beto needs outside help these days, too.

Democrats know that they are running out of time and that the Senate’s main focus is on Biden’s infrastructure legislation. The Texas lawmakers are out wandering in the wilderness thanks to allowing themselves to be useful idiots for national Democrats. Most of them have all but ignored the Texas state Democrats. The longer they remain in D.C. the more they are exposed as the unserious people they are. The special session in Austin comes to an end on August 7. The next special session begins on August 8.