COVID killed Democrats' messaging in D.C., political analyst says, as special session stalemate drags on It appears Democrats are successfully keeping their coalition together and are intent on running out the clock on this special session. Credit: eurobanks - stock.adobe.com Author: Berna Dean Steptoe, Jason Whitely Published: 3:00 PM CDT July 24, 2021 Updated: 3:00 PM CDT July 24, 2021 DALLAS — The big political news remains in the House chamber at the state capitol. We are entering week three of Texas House Democrats in Washington, D.C. COVID has now become a distraction, but it appears Democrats are successfully keeping their coalition together and are intent on running out the clock on this special session to kill another Republican bill to change how and when Texans vote.