Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries stated Wednesday that Democrats are “very likely” to sue Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, accusing him of intentionally delaying a particular election to fill a Home seat that’s been vacant for almost a month.
Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas died on March 5, at age 70, simply two months into his time period. However Abbott has but to announce a particular election date and has missed the deadline for the race to be held on Might 3, Texas’ subsequent out there election date. Meaning the seat for Texas’ 18th Congressional District may not be crammed till November.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries
When requested straight if he believed Abbott was deliberately stalling, Jeffries merely stated, “Yes.”
“I’m not sure when he’s going to hold it,” Johnson admitted—hardly a reassuring reply from the chief of the Home.
Within the worst-case state of affairs, the Houston-area district—house to a predominantly Black and Hispanic inhabitants—might go seven months with out illustration except Abbott calls an emergency particular election. However with Republicans barely holding onto energy within the Home, in addition to contemporary concern a couple of string of Democratic upsets, together with the celebration’s most up-to-date win for a state Supreme Court docket seat in Wisconsin, Abbott is in no hurry to fill a seat that received’t flip crimson.
We’ve seen this playbook earlier than.
Simply final month, the White Home abruptly withdrew New York Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination for United Nations ambassador—reportedly as a result of Republicans couldn’t abdomen the danger of dropping a seat. Now, after padding their numbers with two current particular election wins in Florida, they’re doing all the things they will to delay a race they know they’ll lose.
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, left, and Home Speaker Mike Johnson
Christian Menefee, a Democrat working for the seat, made it clear Wednesday night time that if Abbott retains dragging his ft, he’s able to take authorized motion.
“Nearly 800,000 Houstonians are without a voice in Congress. Abbott has called emergency elections before—he just doesn’t want to do it here,” Menefee wrote on social media, including, “Congress is voting on critical issues. TX-18 deserves a representative now—not months from now.”
Texas Democratic Occasion Chairman Kendall Scudder had a fair blunter message: “Our advice to Greg Abbott: Call an emergency election, or lawyer up.”
And right here’s the kicker: Abbott hasn’t at all times been this gradual. After Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee died in July 2024, Abbott moved shortly to schedule a particular election to fill her seat.
Now? He’s dragging his ft like a child who doesn’t need to do his homework. It’s not about process or price—it’s about energy. Republicans are so determined to cling to their slim majority and move President Donald Trump’s harmful agenda that they’re prepared to stall, delay, and impede.
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