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 practically 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 obtainable election date. Meaning the seat for Texas’ 18th Congressional District may not be crammed till November.
In an interview with NBC Information, Jeffries didn’t mince phrases, flat-out accusing Abbott of dragging his toes to assist Republicans cling to their razor-thin Home majority—particularly as extra members develop annoyed with Home Speaker Mike Johnson’s management.
When requested instantly if he believed Abbott was deliberately stalling, Jeffries merely stated, “Yes.”
Even Johnson appeared clueless in regards to 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 carried out nothing to calm Democratic considerations. When pressed for solutions, a spokesperson gave NBC Information essentially the most noncommittal response attainable: “An announcement on a special election will be made at a later date.”
Within the worst-case situation, the Houston-area district—house to a predominantly Black and Hispanic inhabitants—might go seven months with out illustration until Abbott calls an emergency particular election. However with Republicans barely holding onto energy within the Home, in addition to contemporary concern a few string of Democratic upsets, together with the occasion’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 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 chance of shedding a seat. Now, after padding their numbers with two current particular election wins in Florida, they’re doing every part they’ll to delay a race they know they’ll lose.
Republican operatives instructed NBC Information that an emergency election can be pricey—conveniently ignoring the truth that democracy isn’t precisely low-cost. And with no regulation 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 night time that if Abbott retains dragging his toes, 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 good blunter message: “Our advice to Greg Abbott: Call an emergency election, or lawyer up.”
And right here’s the kicker: Abbott hasn’t all the time been this sluggish. 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 toes like a child who doesn’t wish 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 harmful agenda that they’re keen to stall, delay, and impede.
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