Texas Gov. Abbott Calls for Immediate Second Special Session on Redistricting

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a second special session of the Texas Legislature to start on Aug. 15 in a proclamation issued the same day.

In a press release, the governor cited the departure of state House Democrats as the reason for the second special session. The lawmakers left the state, citing frustration over mid-decade redistricting, which was part of both the first and second session agendas.

The second special session will start just two hours after the first session is completed.

The Texas Democrats left the state almost two weeks ago, protesting the proposed redrawing of Texas congressional districts.

“Delinquent House Democrats ran away from their responsibility to pass crucial legislation to benefit the lives of Texans,” Abbott said.

The governor voiced frustration with the lack of progress on the legislation from the first session, saying that because of Democrats’ “dereliction of duty,” resources for Texas communities impacted by the Fourth of July flooding have been delayed.

“Numerous other bills to cut property taxes, support human trafficking survivors, eliminate the STAAR test, establish commonsense THC regulations, and many others have all been brought to a halt because because [sic] Democrats refuse to show up for work,” Abbott said.

As of Aug. 14, Texas Democrats were still standing by their decision to leave the state, saying in a social media post that they will return to Texas once two conditions are met.

The conditions being that the House be adjourned without a scheduled time to reconvene, and the introduction of California’s redistricting maps, which the group said would “neutralize the Trump-Abbott voter suppression effort.”

The reference to the California legislation is due to an Aug. 14 call by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to conduct a special election to approve a redrawn congressional map to combat the potential Republican gains of U.S. congressional seats in Texas.

“We’re putting the maps on the ballot, and we’re giving the power to the people,” Newsom said at an event in Los Angeles.

That vote will take place on Nov. 4.

In addition to California’s change, Newsom called on the governors of other Democratic majority states to respond to the Republican majority states’ efforts to redistrict.

The Texas Democrats’ statement was aimed at the president, saying “Trump thought he could easily get his way in Texas with compliant Republicans, but Democrats fought back ferociously and took the fight to Trump across America. We will return to the House floor and to the courthouse with a clear message: the fight to protect voting rights has only just begun.”

The House GOP’s main campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee, said that Newsom is violating the California Constitution.

Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for the group, said in a statement, “Newsom’s made it clear: He’ll shred California’s Constitution and trample over democracy—running a cynical, self-serving playbook where Californians are an afterthought and power is the only priority.”

Jackson Richman contributed to this report.