Abbott calls second special legislative session to push redistricting in Texas

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged “delinquent” state House Democrats to return to Austin on Friday as he called a second special legislative session that hinges on a controversial redistricting plan.

Mr. Abbott, a Republican, said redrawing congressional maps was just one plank of a 19-section agenda for the session, which also includes relief for victims of devastating flooding in Hill Country.

“Delinquent House Democrats ran away from their responsibility to pass crucial legislation to benefit the lives of Texans,” Mr. Abbott said. “Because of their dereliction of duty, Texas families and communities impacted by the catastrophic Fourth of July flooding have been delayed critical resources for relief and recovery.”

Democratic lawmakers fled Texas earlier this month, denying the Republican-led legislature the quorum it needs to redraw congressional districts in a bid to pick up five U.S. House seats for the GOP.

On Thursday, they said they would return to Texas because the first special session had adjourned. Also, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a plan to redraw congressional maps in California, potentially neutralizing any GOP advantage from Texas’ moves.

Democrats say Mr. Abbott is the one denying Texas flood relief by putting the redistricting plan on the agenda. They’ve called the plan a threat to democracy that would allow lawmakers to choose their voters, instead of the other way around.

Mr. Abbott says Democrats are simply refusing to show up for work. Besides redistricting, he wants to pass legislation that improves flood-warning systems, cuts property taxes and prohibits the sale of certain hemp products to children.

Redistricting — the process of drawing new legislative maps — usually only happens after the decennial census, though there is no federal prohibition on it happening in the middle of a decade.

Indeed, Democratic-controlled New York redrew its lines last year, helping to capture three seats from Republicans in November’s elections.

Democrats say Mr. Trump sparked the new fight by prodding Texas to follow New York’s lead.

The Trump Justice Department sent a letter suggesting that some Texas districts drawn to give Black voters an overwhelming say in the outcome of elections may no longer be justified by the law.

Mr. Abbott has cited that letter as a prod for his actions.

National Democrats have rallied behind their Texan allies. Beyond Mr. Newsom, former President Barack Obama praised the Democrats in a video call on Thursday.

“We can’t let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by,” Mr. Obama said. “This precious democracy that we’ve got is not a given, it’s not self-executing. It requires us to fight for it.”