New York’s Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul has declared “war” on the Republican-led efforts to redraw Texas’s congressional districts.
Hochul vowed to “fight fire with fire” as she criticized the move and promised to pursue similar tactics in her own state.
While Texas Republicans are working on their redistricting efforts, which could potentially increase GOP representation, Hochul wasted no time in defending the fleeing Texas Democrats.
As Slay News reported earlier, several Texas House Democrats illegally fled to the state to avoid a vote on redistricting.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded by warning that he will arrest and expel those lawmakers who fail to show up for the Monday vote.
Hochul is claiming that the Republican efforts were a “legal insurrection” against the 2026 elections.
According to Hochul, this move left her no choice but to follow suit.
“What Texas and Republican states are doing at the direction of Donald Trump, I say, is nothing short of a legal insurrection against our Capitol,” Hochul said, equating Republican efforts to subvert the elections to an act of rebellion.
“Legal meaning they’re using the legal process.
“It does not mean it’s legal, and it must be stopped.”
Hochul’s combative rhetoric comes after dozens of Texas Democrat state representatives fled to New York and Illinois in an attempt to block the redistricting vote.
The Democrats are hoping to deny Republicans a quorum.
Gov. Abbott responded swiftly, warning that if the Democrat lawmakers didn’t return by Monday afternoon, they would face potential arrest and removal from office.
As the Texas Democrats continue their exile, Hochul insisted that her state would not be left behind, promising that she and her state’s legislative leaders were prepared to take similar action.
“If Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they’re leaving us no choice,” Hochul continued. “We must do the same.”
In line with this, Hochul is now exploring every option to redraw New York’s state congressional lines to ensure a more favorable outcome for Democrats.
“All is fair in love and war,” Hochul added, signaling that she would not shy away from using whatever tactics were necessary to counter the GOP’s redistricting push.
Hochul’s comments come amid growing tensions over the Texas redistricting debate.
Republican-backed plans would likely secure up to five new U.S. House seats for the GOP in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, a move that Democrat leaders like Hochul have denounced as a “racist mid-decade redistricting scheme.”
Abbott, meanwhile, has blasted the Democratic exodus, calling the fleeing lawmakers “derelict” and insisting that “real Texans don’t run from a fight.”
Abbott has also threatened legal consequences for anyone attempting to help the fleeing Democrats, warning that any individuals who assist them in evading fines could be charged with bribery.
“This is about upholding the law and protecting the will of the people,” Abbott said.
“You cannot simply run away when you don’t agree with a law and try to rewrite the system for political advantage.”
While Hochul’s calls for redistricting in New York are still in the early stages, her plan signals an ongoing battle for political control in a state that, like Texas, could see dramatic shifts in congressional representation following the next election.
The fight over redistricting in both states is more than just about congressional lines; it’s about who controls the future of American politics.
As Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over who gets to redraw the lines, it is clear that the battle for power is intensifying, and neither side is backing down.
As we head into the 2026 midterms, Americans can expect this contentious issue to dominate the political landscape, with both parties ready to use every tool at their disposal to secure an advantage.
Whether it’s fleeing a state to block votes or drawing new lines to shift power, the fight for control of Congress is far from over.
READ MORE – Democrat Jasmine Crockett Panics as Texas Lawmakers Move to Boot Her from Own District
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