38-day Texas Democrat walkout ends as three more lawmakers return to Austin

Three more Texas state lawmakers have returned to Austin, effectively ending a 38-day walkout by Democrats hoping to stall a GOP-sponsored election bill. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan declared just after 7 p.m. on Thursday that the legislature had reached a quorum, allowing lawmakers to begin voting again.

There were still 49 absences on Thursday night, but with 99 total legislators in the House, there were enough members present for a quorum, according to the Texas Tribune. The House then adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday. This was Republicans' second attempt to call a special session of the legislature. Since Republicans hold the majority, Democrats stalled the vote on the elections bill by walking out of the regular session in May. Then, more than 50 Democrats fled the state at the start of the special session, denying the Republicans a quorum to vote.