Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries mentioned 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. Which means the seat for Texas’ 18th Congressional District won’t be stuffed till November.
In an interview with NBC Information, Jeffries didn’t mince phrases, flat-out accusing Abbott of dragging his ft to assist Republicans cling to their razor-thin Home majority—particularly as extra members develop pissed off with Home Speaker Mike Johnson’s management.
When requested immediately if he believed Abbott was deliberately stalling, Jeffries merely mentioned, “Yes.”
Even Johnson appeared clueless concerning the holdout, telling NBC Information he hadn’t spoken to Abbott.
“I’m not sure when he’s going to hold it,” Johnson admitted—hardly a reassuring reply from the chief of the Home.
Abbott’s workplace has executed nothing to calm Democratic considerations. When pressed for solutions, a spokesperson gave NBC Information probably the most noncommittal response potential: “An announcement on a special election will be made at a later date.”
Within the worst-case situation, the Houston-area district—dwelling 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 recent concern a few 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 gained’t flip purple.
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 latest particular election wins in Florida, they’re doing all the pieces they will to delay a race they know they’ll lose.
Republican operatives informed NBC Information that an emergency election could be expensive—conveniently ignoring the truth that democracy isn’t precisely low-cost. And with no legislation forcing Abbott to behave, Democrats fear he’ll simply let the seat sit empty till this November—or, worse, November 2026.
Christian Menefee, a Democrat operating for the seat, made it clear Wednesday evening 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 Get together 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 rapidly 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 value—it’s about energy. Republicans are so determined to cling to their slim majority and move President Donald Trump’s damaging agenda that they’re keen to stall, delay, and hinder.
