Texas governor goes after Democrats who avoided voting for redistricting
發佈日期: 2025-08-05 21:19
TVB News
Texas Governor Greg Abbott wants to redraw congressional district lines in his state to encompass more Republican voters and flip seats held by Democrats in next year's midterm elections.
The plan is supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Texas Democrats, though, have left the state to avoid voting, with the state's Republicans vowing to track down and arrest the absentees.
The battle lines have been drawn...for the right to redraw lines on the Texas map.
The fight, though, is being waged from other states.
In Illinois; Massachusetts; New York.
More than 50 Texas Democrats have left for these states in temporary political exile.
Their absence from the Texas legislature means their state lacks the quorum needed to vote on the redistricting plan.
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbot wants them arrested, also citing the need to vote on relief for victims of a deadly flood that last month claimed more than 130 lives.
Said Abbott: "Texans are being let down and not getting the flood relief they need because these Democrats have absconded from the responsibility, and I believe they have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do."
One Texas Democratic lawmaker in Illinois said the plan was racist.
"When families can't afford to buy groceries, when families don't know if they're going to be able to keep their children alive because they can't no longer afford health care, that is what our focus should be," said Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos. "But instead, their focusing on pushing this racist radical redistricting map."
In U.S. law, states must redistrict every 10 years based on the national census. The current Texas map was passed four years ago. Democrats who fled to Boston also spoke up.
"We believe the current map, as constructed is discriminatory and a racial gerrymander of communities of interest," said Armando Walle.
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul lent her support to the Democrats.
"These brave public servants are taking a stand, a strong stand against a blatant power grab that's happening in their state as we speak," said Hochul. "And this will have implications not just in Texas, but for our entire nation and its future."
Abbott dismissed accusations that the redistricting was based on race.
He said: "We have the authority, legally, under redistricting law to draw districts that align with the voter preferences of the voters of the state of Texas, and Donald Trump proved in these Hispanic-created districts that Hispanics, as well as other people in those districts, they want to vote Republican."
The Democrats have an ally in California Governor Gavin Newsom, who said he would redraw district lines in his state if the Texas legislature succeeds in its redistricting plan.
