NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Says ‘We Are at War’ Over Texas Redistricting Push: ‘Bring It On!’
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has warned “we are at war” in the wake of a Texas redistricting bill that prompted Democratic lawmakers to flee the Lone Star State.
Hochul appeared alongside Democratic Texas state Reps. Mihaela Plesa, Lulu Flores, Vikki Goodwin, Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, Jolanda Jones, and Suleman Lalani, whom she praised as “profiles in courage.”
Hochul pledged to stand in solidarity with the Texas pols, who are among numerous lawmakers fleeing the state in the wake of the redistricting plan that will add five districts favorable to Republicans.
“This is a war,” Hochul said. “We are at war, and that’s why the gloves are off. And I say, bring it on!” Hochul, who has threatened to gerrymander New York’s House seats in retaliation for Texas’s possible new map, added:
These are profiles in courage, sitting with me here today. They left their homes, left their families, left their loved ones in a world of uncertainty. That our history is defined by people who are brave patriots who will not accept the status quo, who believe they must use their voices and their positions to stand up for others.
I could not be prouder to have an opportunity to meet them, each and every one of them, and hear their personal stories. And I thank them so much for making this journey. You are on the right side of history, and you’re not alone. We are in solidarity with each and every one of you and your colleagues in another state, hosted by my great friend JB Pritzker, will welcome you as well.
As I said, history will judge us by how we respond to this moment, but here in New York we will not sit on the sidelines with the timid souls on the sidelines who don’t care, will not invest their heart and soul into this battle. This is a war. We are at war, and that’s why the gloves are off. And I say, bring it on.
Plesa, Flores, Goodwin, Jones, Garcia Hernandez, and Lalani are among the numerous Democratic politicians who have fled Texas over the Republican move. Dozens of others went to Chicago, where Pritzker vowed to protect them and put them up in a hotel owned by his family.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has said he will lead a redistricting effort in his state that would knock several Republicans there out of Congress.
Hochul’s Texas counterpart, Gov. Greg Abbott (R), has threatened to remove any Democrats who left the state from office.
In addition, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) took it a step further in a post on X, saying, “Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately.”
Watch above via C-SPAN.
