Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) defended GOP redistricting efforts, saying Republicans “deserve” extra seats in Congress as a result of the Lone Star State is a crimson state.
In an interview on Fox Information’s “Hannity” Tuesday night, Patrick slammed Democrats for fleeing the state in a bid to dam passage of a new Congressional map that may give Republicans 5 pickup alternatives within the Home in the course of the 2026 midterms, and he accused Democrats of dropping contact with their voters.
“I problem them: Come again and do the suitable factor. Don’t run and conceal since you’ve misplaced contact with the voters,” Patrick instructed host Sean Hannity within the interview.
“Their drawback usually are not redistricting traces,” he continued. “Their drawback, Sean, is that they’ve misplaced the minds of their voters, who’re transferring in direction of the Republican Get together all around the nation.”
“We’re a crimson state. We deserve extra illustration,” he added.
After a Texas Home committee advanced the updated congressional lines throughout their particular session final week, Democrats left the state to deny Republicans a quorum, or the minimal variety of lawmakers wanted to conduct enterprise.
In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has known as for the Democrats’ arrest and has ordered the Texas Rangers to launch a probe into the lawmakers for attainable bribery and different violations.
Patrick pledged to push forward with the redistricting course of within the Texas Senate, the place members nonetheless have a quorum, and vowed to cross the brand new maps “no matter it takes.”
“We’ll cross out redistricting subsequent week,” Patrick mentioned, referring to the state’s higher chamber. “We’ll cross out our agenda.”
“We’ll transfer it ahead and, working with the speaker, … We’re both going to do it now. We’ll do it in later August. We’ll do it in September. We’ll do it October,” he continued. “No matter it takes, Sean, no matter it takes, we’re going to get it carried out. There’s nothing they’ll do to cease us.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has additionally pressed the FBI to intervene and power the Democrats to return to vote. The suggestion was also floated by President Trump, who instructed reporters on Tuesday that Republicans are “entitled” to the five House seats.