After failing to reach a quorum in the Texas House on Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed what Republican lawmakers have been saying — that beyond efforts to add five GOP congressional seats in the Lone Star State, there have been discussions about seeking to add as many as three more.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News Texas Monday, Governor Abbott said, “What we are doing is looking at all options. We’re looking at a lot of different alternatives in part to make sure we do have fairness. If you compare Texas to California or Illinois or New York or Massachusetts, those states are truly gerrymandered and have hardly any Republicans.”
When asked if Texas has also gerrymandered districts, the Governor said, “Well, no, there’s a higher percentage of Democrats in Texas than in the Congressional delegation than there are Republicans in California, Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. So if Texas were to draw its maps the way the Democratic states have drawn their maps it could means as maybe a ten seat pick-up.”
Of California’s 52 Congressional seats, Republicans serve in just nine. In Illinois, only 3 of the state’s 17 Congressional districts are served by Republicans. In Texas, Democrats hold 13 of the state’s 38 Congressional seats.
Abbott calls out Democrats
The Governor called out Texas Democrats who continue to break quorum and prevent the House from voting on the new Congressional maps favoring Republicans. Last week, Abbott filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court to remove House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Wu, who led Democrats on their out-of-state quorum break.
