Gov. Greg Abbott: Texas Democrats left to block redistricting, are "holding hostage" flood-relief measures

Governor Greg Abbott said a group of Texas Democrats left the state to protest redistricting and are preventing needed legislation, including relief for flood victims, from moving forward. "They're very untexant. Texans don't run from a fight," Abbott said, adding that some lawmakers "have forfeited their seats in the state legislature because they're not doing the job they were elected to do."

Abbott framed the departures as a political protest he called out-of-state, saying, "to run to states like New York and Illinois to, protest redistricting is kinda like running to Wisconsin to protest cheese." He also alleged that New York and Illinois have already redistricted in ways that "eliminate Republicans."

The governor emphasized a second point about consequences: he said a small fraction of lawmakers who broke quorum are "holding hostage legislation in the state of Texas" that he said would provide assistance and reforms for victims of "that horrific flooding that we've had in the state of Texas." "Our fellow Texans are being let down and not getting the flood relief they need because these Democrats have absconded from the responsibility," he said.

The interview transcript records Abbott's comments and the interviewer's questions but does not include responses from the absent legislators or any contemporaneous legislative action. The governor's assertions—that redistricting in other states "eliminate Republicans," that a small number of members are blocking specific flood-relief bills, and that the absent lawmakers have "forfeited their seats"—are presented here as Abbott's statements; the transcript contains no rebuttal or independent verification of those claims.

No formal motions, votes, or legislative actions appear in the interview transcript. The discussion centers on Abbott's characterization of the lawmakers' departure and the political and policy consequences he attributes to it.