Three Exiled Dems Test Positive For COVID-19

Washington (AP) – Three of the Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas to stymie a Republican-backed effort to impose new voting restrictions have tested positive for COVID-19 in the nation’s capitol. Texas House’s Democratic Caucus Director Phillip Martin says all three were fully vaccinated. He declined to release their names or conditions. Two of the lawmakers were among a group that met with Vice President Kamala Harris, but were not in close contact with Harris, according to a spokesperson for the vice president. Republicans and others criticized the Democrats after a photo showed them on a charter flight to Washington without masks, though masks aren’t required on private flights. Martin says everyone on the flight was fully vaccinated.