Texas Republicans advance voting restrictions at special session after Democrat walkout

Texans from across the ideological spectrum flocked to testify in person at public hearings convened by governor Greg Abbott

Hailee Mouch woke up at 2am Saturday morning so she could drive to her state's capital city of Austin and testify at two competing public hearings on Texas's restrictive voting bills.

She knew she had to return to the Dallas area to be at work by 6am Sunday. But she was determined to stay as long as possible to tell state lawmakers how their proposals would hurt democracy in the small city where she goes to college.