O’Rourke’s Group Accused of Funding Break in Quorum

State Senator Mayes Middleton: "Gene Wu has been fighting to put China first and Texas second -- even working to allow communist China to buy our land out from under us in Texas. If he wants a refresher course on Marxism, I'm sure the CCP will take him back. I'll keep defending the Big Beautiful Map. No apologies."

Texas House Democrats: "History will judge this moment. It will show a Governor who used the law as a weapon to silence his people, and it will show those of us who stood for a higher principle. We took an oath to the constitution, not to a politician's agenda."

State Senator Rolando Gutierrez: "Gutless Greg could have taken emergency action to provide flood relief for Texas a month ago. Instead, he held relief hostage so that he could pass rigged electoral maps for Trump. Now he's throwing a hissy fit at Democrats because we won't play his twisted game."

Rep. Jasmine Crockett: "Newsflash, Wannabe Dictator: I don't care how many times you shake the Etch A Sketch trying to redraw these lines. I'm not disappearing. I'll be back, still on your behind every step of the way. We've already been over this. I've got the degrees, the credentials, and the receipts. If you're looking for 'low IQ,' try looking in the mirror -- or at your own Cabinet."

O’Rourke’s Group Accused of Funding Break in Quorum — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina — Powered by People, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D) political group, is allegedly a key financial backer of the Texas House Democrats’ out-of-state trip in protest of redrawing the states’ congressional map.

Paxton Investigating O'Rourke's Group Over Democrat Exodus — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina — Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced this week that he has launched a formal investigation into Powered by People, the political organization founded by former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D), over allegations it illegally funded Texas House Democrats’ recent quorum-breaking exodus.

Hunt Weighs Senate Run Bid, Posing Threat to Cornyn — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — Rep. Wesley Hunt (R), is reportedly weighing a bid for the U.S. Senate, which would pit him against both incumbent Senator John Cornyn (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

Senator Cornyn Requests FBI Support in Texas Legislative Standoff — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R) has called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist Texas authorities in investigating potential criminal acts by lawmakers who fled the state to stall legislative proceedings. In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Cornyn cited concerns about bribery and other public corruption offenses.

NRG Energy Secures $216M Texas Loan for New Houston Gas Power Units — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — NRG Energy has received a multimillion-dollar state loan to construct two natural gas units at its TH Wharton Power Plant in Northwest Houston. The units, designed to generate 456 megawatts of power, are expected to come online next summer and serve the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) Houston load zone.

O’Rourke’s Group Accused of Funding Break in Quorum — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina

Bomb threat prompts evacuation at Chicago hotel where some Texas Democrats are staying — By Caroline Linton for CBS News

LONESTAR is written by Javier Manjarres and Daniel Molina