Texas Democratic Caucus Speaker Addresses Governor’s Threat
Jean Woo, the Speaker of the Texas House Democratic Party, has responded to Governor Greg Abbott’s warning about removing Democrats from the Texas Legislature after they left the state to protest Republican efforts regarding district changes.
During a Monday interview with CNN’s John Berman, Woo remarked, “Frankly, Democrats say, ‘Come, and take it,'” regarding the governor’s threat to lawmakers’ positions.
He also mentioned that he doesn’t expect Abbott’s threats to amount to much. “No, it’s all disappointing,” Wu reflected when asked if he believed the governor could successfully take away a Democrat’s seat. “Sounds and anger that don’t mean anything.”
Abbott has insisted that Democrats must return to the Capitol by Monday afternoon, adding that “we will call Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 for members who did not do so and remove missing Democrats from their Texas House membership.”
The governor also suggested that Democrats receiving funds to circumvent fines under house rules might face felony bribery charges. He extended this concern to those who fund and support Democrats as well.
In a bid to block the quorum necessary to push through the revised political map, Democrats departed Texas for places like Chicago, New York City, and Boston.
The new congressional map is expected to offer Republicans five additional opportunities to gain seats in 2026, as they aim to safeguard their slim majority in the coming years.
While legislative walkouts are unusual, Texas has seen them before, notably in 2021 and 2003, when the GOP aimed for mid-session redistricting.
“This is not a step we should underestimate,” Wu stated. “To be here in Chicago, we really had no choice. We tried to negotiate. We tried to engage with the Republicans. We attempted to express our concerns. But they simply wouldn’t listen.”
He continued, “This was the only way we could protect our constituents and our nation. All they’re doing is politics. It’s not just influencing our lives; it could devastate them.”
When queried about the duration of their absence from the state, Wu replied, “Our commitment to this is one day at a time,” emphasizing that his focus is currently on the special session.
