Greg Abbott Says He Knows When Texas Redistricting Maps Will Become Law

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday on Fox News’ Hannity that he expects the state’s new redistricting maps to “probably” become law by the end of the week.

Chaos erupted in July after Republicans unveiled the maps, prompting dozens of Texas Democrats to flee the state in an effort to block a vote. In response, Democrats like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker pushed back, with the California governor launching his state’s gerrymandering campaign.

During the segment, Hannity told Abbott that the U.S. is “now aware” of gerrymandered states like California, New York and Illinois, pointing to the low levels of Republican representation in Democrat-led states. (RELATED: Newsom Vows To Pack California’s Conservative Outposts With Dem Voters, New Map Shows)

“Most of Americans were unaware how these blue states had gerrymandered their states so much. It’s so ironic that these Texas Democrat House members went to Illinois, which is one of the most gerrymandered states in the entire country,” Abbott said. “And when you look at California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, they’ve squeezed out all [the] Republicans they can possibly squeeze out.”

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“What Texas is doing, we’re just drawing fair maps, as allowed by law, and it will ensure that at least five more members of Republicans will be serving in the United States Congress,” Abbott added. “Let me add to what you showed on the agenda earlier, because the Democrats did return to the Texas capital, to the state of Texas this morning. Then, hours later, the House committee already passed those maps out, and those congressional maps are going to pass out on the House floor on Wednesday. They’ve already passed out of the Senate. They will become law, probably, by the end of this week.”

While Democrats fled to states like Illinois, Texas Republicans — including Attorney General Ken Paxton — warned that lawmakers could face arrest if they didn’t return. Despite their efforts, Democrats eventually came back, claiming they had at least succeeded in derailing the first special session.

On Friday, Abbott launched a second special session, with the redistricting maps set to reach the House floor on Wednesday.

With Democrats outraged across the U.S., Newsom rolled out his pushback plan Thursday, launching an effort to oust roughly six Republicans from California’s House delegation. The special election, set for Nov. 4, will ask voters whether to shift redistricting authority from the independent commission back to the state Legislature.

Despite Democrats’ enthusiasm, a Politico poll said 64% of Californians favor keeping independent redistricting, while only 36% support handing the power back to lawmakers. A memo from Assembly Republicans also warned the special election could cost voters at least $235.5 million.

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