Texas Democrat Jolanda Jones offered an apology on Tuesday after making a controversial comparison between the Holocaust, in which over 6 million Jews were killed, and the Republican efforts to redraw the state’s Capitol map.
At 59, Jones is part of a group of over 50 Texas House Democrats who left the state capital to prevent a special legislative meeting. This meeting could potentially create five additional U.S. House seats for the upcoming 2026 elections.
During her comments, Jones stated, “They don’t accept us. They show us who they are, and we should believe them. We need to have the courage to stand up.” She expressed that in the country, people could find themselves “defeated and deported,” losing all their rights. She cautioned that complacency could lead to dire consequences for herself or loved ones.
“And I’ll compare this to the Holocaust,” Jones added. “People often wonder how the Holocaust could happen, questioning how anyone could be in a position to commit such acts. The truth is, good people either stayed silent or didn’t realize that what happened then could happen to them, too.”
However, Jones quickly retracted her statement, acknowledging that she was “emotional” during her interview on “The Don Lemon Show.” She admitted, “It was a mistake to compare Trump’s actions against marginalized communities to the Holocaust.”
In her apology, she clarified, “Trump has targeted my community, which made me emotional. My statement was strong but it crossed a line, and I regret that comparison.”
A spokesperson for Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott criticized her remarks, saying, “The Democrats who have fled are engaging in a desperate anti-democratic stunt.” He added that unlike the fleeing Democrats, Abbott was dedicated to serving Texans.
The governor remarked that if House Democrats genuinely wanted to achieve results, they should return to the Texas Capitol and face the voters.
Jones, along with the other absent Democrats—many of whom are reportedly in locations like Illinois and New York—are hindering the state House from reaching the necessary quorum for legislative activities.
On Monday, state lawmakers moved to issue arrest warrants for those missing members. Additionally, Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) has requested the FBI’s assistance in locating Democrats who have crossed state lines to evade voting on the redistricting issue.
In response, Abbott has been actively trying to remove these Democrats, instructing state law enforcement to arrest them and investigate any legal violations stemming from their absence during special sessions.
Jones did not respond to inquiries for comment following the incident.
