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jenrice.bsky.social
jen rice
@jenrice.bsky.social
9.1K followers 1K following 640 posts
reporter @democracydocket.com // from the floodplain // bad at sleeping // signal: jenrice.77
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jenrice.bsky.social
And of course in TX all 9 state supreme court justices are elected in statewide races to ensure that one party rule forever effect
November 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
❤️❤️❤️❤️
November 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Some good news: @democracydocket.com is hiring a social & creative producer. Join the team :)

www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/so...
Democracy Docket hiring Social and Creative Producer in Washington, DC | LinkedIn
Posted 7:57:43 PM. About Democracy DocketDemocracy Docket is the leading digital news platform dedicated to…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:31 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
(and no, not one voter ever testified at the legislature hearings or either trial saying they couldn't vote, despite Mack's website looking for them🤷🏻‍♀️)
November 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Houston furniture magnate Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has launched a website in hopes of gathering evidence of voter disenfranchisement in Harris County's November 2022 election. The initiative follows the Gallery Furniture owner's lawsuit filed last week accusing the Harris County Elections Administrator’s Office of refusing to turn over public records related to the election. MORE ON MACK: Mattress Mack files lawsuit over 2022 Harris County election records GOP lawmakers including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have called for Harris County to redo its November election based on claims of ballot paper shortages, though they have not provided any evidence or estimate of disenfranchised voters. McIngvale, who was a major donor supporting Republican candidates, including County Judge Lina Hidalgo's opponent Alexandra del Moral Mealer, now appears to be searching for just that. The website, called Hard to Vote, leads with a recorded message from McIngvale: "Do you believe you were denied the opportunity to vote in the November 2022 election? I've heard reports of machines that didn't work, ballot shortages, voting locations suddenly closing. If you experienced difficulties or felt unjustly treated, we want to hear your story."
November 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Mattress Mack launches website to collect evidence of disenfranchised Harris County voters

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Houston Chronicle story: Mattress Mack launches website to collect evidence of disenfranchised Harris County voters
November 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
He's also a massive election denier
houstonchronicle.com Houston Chronicle @houstonchronicle.com · 20h
Mattress Mack slept outside without a mattress to raise funds for the youth shelter Covenant House Texas. Here's what he's been thinking about since. bit.ly/44voubn
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Anyway this is what SB1933 says

capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/...
88(R) SB 1933 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
capitol.texas.gov
November 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
To be honest Harris County elections are already under a state administrative microscope so I would love to know how being under "administrative oversight" would be different
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
With the 2026 election approaching, TX state Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R) appears to be filing a complaint that activates his own 2023 bill (SB1933), which was written to target ONLY Harris County (Houston) and could trigger putting it under state "administrative oversight"
On November 18, 2025, a complaint was submitted to our office by Senator Paul Bettencourt, who has previously been a candidate in the Harris County elections. The complaint alleges a recurring pattern of problems related to the failure to conduct voter registration list maintenance activities. We have determined that this administrative complaint meets the requirements outlined in Section 31.017 of the Texas Election Code. This letter serves as your official notice of receipt of the qualifying complaint.
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Admittedly their argument is even weirder in the context of Missouri, where they seem to think the *voters* are silencing the will of the elected officials lol

www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Missouri Republicans Sue to Block ‘People’s Veto’ of GOP Gerrymander
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:17 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
We're officially in a redistricting crossover episode: Missouri filed an amicus brief supporting the TX redistricting map using their weird "stop ignoring the will of the elected officials" Missouri GOP argument
“Redistricting constitutes a traditional domain of state legislative authority.” Alexander v. S.C. State Conf. of the NAACP, 602 U.S. 1, 7 (2024). And “[f]ederal- court review of districting legislation represents a serious intrusion on the most vital of local functions.” Miller v. Johnson, 515 U.S. 900, 915 (1995). Amicus the State of Missouri and twenty-one other States strongly object to a U.S. district court’s severe intrusion on Texas’s sovereign and “most vital” right to redistrict. Id.; App. 1a–160a. The district court issued a preliminary injunction in favor of Plaintiffs, transparently attempting to weaponize the federal judiciary to repeal the will of Texas’s elected representatives. See App. 160a. The court’s decision transfers five congressional seats to Plaintiffs’ preferred political party. Id. at 93a, 160a; see also id. at 194a (Smith, J., dissenting).
November 24, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by jen rice
democracydocket.com
NEW: The DOJ filed an amicus brief Monday claiming its much-criticized letter urging redistricting was NOT what prompted Texas to redraw its map immediately afterward.
https://bit.ly/48eR7dV
DOJ Tries To Undo Damage of Its ‘Ham-Fisted’ Letter in Texas Gerrymander Case
Read more here.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
You can read the brief here:
www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/u...

And all the case docs here:
www.democracydocket.com/cases/texas-...
🚨 League of United Latin American Citizens v. Abbott
Learn more.
www.democracydocket.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
NEW: DOJ has filed an amicus brief in the TX redistricting case (0 mentions of George Soros; confusing for Judge Smith). They're now arguing (L) TX didn't redistrict because of the DOJ letter, which is interesting if you remember TX House Speaker Dustin Burrows' press release (R).
In sum, the evidence clearly demonstrates that Texas was not doing DOJ’s supposed bidding—much less in a race-conscious way—but instead was engaged in a race-blind partisan gerrymander that happened to affect the districts DOJ identified (along with every other district in the State but one). In fact, that is precisely what the actual direct evidence shows: namely, the consistent testimony of the chairs of the legislative redistricting committees and the sponsor of the bill that they paid no heed to the DOJ letter. See Op. 77, 80, 89. At minimum, nothing about the Texas legislature’s response to the DOJ letter constitutes “direct evidence” or even “extraordinarily powerful circumstantial evidence” that would obviate the need for respondents to produce an alternative map. burrows press release when map passed - "to address concerns raised by the department of justice"
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by jen rice
democracydocket.com
UPDATE: Justice Alito has issued an administrative stay, temporarily pausing the order that blocked the gerrymander.

This does not mean Texas won but it does freeze the ruling while SCOTUS reviews the state’s request.

Plaintiffs’ response due Nov. 24.
Texas Asks SCOTUS to Reimpose Anti-Minority Gerrymander
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by jen rice
democracydocket.com
BREAKING: Texas requests the U.S. Supreme Court pause the ruling blocking its racially gerrymandered congressional map.

If Justice Alito grants a stay, the gerrymander could return for the 2026 elections.
Texas Asks SCOTUS to Reimpose Anti-Minority Gerrymander
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
To be clear this is insane
democracydocket.com Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 3d
BREAKING: Escalating the fight over Missouri’s GOP gerrymander, AG Catherine Hanaway posted on X that she has referred the grassroots referendum campaign to ICE, without providing evidence for her allegation that it is “employing illegal aliens.”
Missouri AG Now Siccing ICE on Gerrymander Referendum Signature Gatherers
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
OK my brain is officially done processing things for this week, can't handle this one
November 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by jen rice
annabower.bsky.social
Who needs cameras in the courtroom when you’ve got THIS
Doodle of parties at comey court hearing. A very bad doodle showing Comey, Pat Fitzgerald, Lindsey halligan, Tyler lemons stick figures in court. Comey is very tall
November 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by jen rice
democracydocket.com
NEW: In a remarkable and deeply unhinged dissent, U.S. Circuit Judge Jerry Smith unleashed an attack — laden with personal insults and conspiracy theories — on his fellow panel judges after a federal court struck down Texas’ Trump-backed racial gerrymander.
In Unhinged Dissent, Texas Judge Attacks Colleagues — and George Soros
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:06 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
he would like for texas to be able to use its new map
November 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Judge Jerry Smith:
November 19, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by jen rice
audrelawdamercy.bsky.social
I just ctrl+f'd and... "Soros" appears in this dissent 17 times
jenrice.bsky.social jen rice @jenrice.bsky.social · 5d
The TX redistricting dissent from Judge Jerry Smith is in. It's....a lot. He calls out the "pernicious judicial misbehavior" of Judge Brown (a Trump appointed judge) who wrote yesterday's opinion.

www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/u...
November 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
jenrice.bsky.social
Judge Jerry Smith:
November 19, 2025 at 8:47 PM