Six Texas Democrats who traveled to Washington, D.C. to stop a Republican election measure from being voted on have tested positive for COVID-19.
Three Democratic politicians tested positive on Saturday, two more on Sunday, and one on Monday — all of whom are fully vaccinated, and one of whom met with Vice President Harris in person, according to The New York Post.
The six politicians are currently relaxing in a hotel in Washington, D.C., where they will be staying for a month.
To prevent the GOP from enacting an electoral reform bill in Texas, Democrats traveled on a private jet.
According to The New York Post, the Democrats flew to the nation’s capital to oppose a Republican-led move to prohibit municipal officials from issuing unsolicited absentee vote applications and to require a driver’s license number or a social security number on the application.
According to the Washington Post, the GOP also wants to ban 24-hour polling stations, drive-thru voting, and vote drop boxes.
Under the new rules, partisan poll monitors will be able to observe election workers at polling places.
These initiatives, according to Republicans, will assure voting integrity and prevent voter fraud.
State Representatives Celia Israel and Trey Martinez Fischer are the two most recent legislators to test positive for COVID-19. Israel described her symptoms as “very light.” According to the Post, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chairman Chris Turner, who met with Harris, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and others in person, tested positive as well.
“Based on the timeline of these positive tests, it was determined the vice president and her staff present at the meeting were not at risk of exposure because they were not in close contact with those who tested positive and therefore do not need to be tested or quarantined,” said Harris spokeswoman Symone Sanders.
On weekends, Harris visits Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a “routine check-up.”
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