Texas Senate passes election bill that is stalled until House Democrats return By Adam Brewster Texas Dems meet with Vice President Harris The Texas Senate passed its version of a major election bill on Tuesday along party lines, but it can't go anywhere unless Texas House Democrats come back to the state. More than 50 Texas House Democrats and nine Senate Democrats left the state on Monday to go to Washington, D.C., to deny a quorum in that chamber. The House cannot take action on bills without enough members present in Austin. Even without the nine Senate Democrats, there were 22 state senators present, enough for a quorum. Four Senate Democrats were present in the chamber for the debate.