Texas Governor Blames County's Elections Problems For Delay In Filling Vacant Congressional Seat

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Huff Post/AP

Apr 4, 2025, 10:45 PM EDT


HOUSTON (AP) — Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott is blaming a history of election problems in the state’s most populous county for his delay in calling for a special election to fill the seat of Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died a month ago.

But Teneshia Hudspeth, the chief elections officer in Harris County where Turner’s congressional district is located, pushed back on Abbott’s criticism, saying the county is “fully prepared” to hold the election for the congressman’s replacement. Democrats have accused Abbott of delaying the election to help Republicans maintain their razor-thin margins in the U.S. House.

One candidate vying for the open seat, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, along with Democratic U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have threatened to sue Abbott over the delay. Turner, a former Houston mayor, died March 5, just weeks into his first term in Congress. His district includes parts of Houston and Harris County and has nearly 800,000 residents.

Abbott has the sole authority to call for a special election. Abbott’s office had previously only said an announcement on a special election would be made at a later date.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/us-congress-texas-greg-abbott_n_67f095cee4b00c49db208e04

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Abbott's mouth opened and lying "excuses" came out.

NOTE: (from the OP)

Abbott has the sole authority to call for a special election.

REFERENCE (for what may have got him moving) - Hakeem Jeffries threatens lawsuit over delayed Texas special election

(I know people were getting mad and demanding he "do it" )

This is from the one running for the seat (a Millennial too, who threatened to sue)!

Link to tweet

Christian D. Menefee
@CDMenefee
·
Follow
.@GregAbbott_TX’s excuse here is nonsense.

There’s only one reason why 800,000 Houstonians in TX-18 still don’t have a member of Congress—Because Donald Trump and Elon Musk are pulling Greg Abbott’s strings.

Governor, call the election. You’ve had a month. No more excuses. 1/5

(He has both Threads and Blue Sky accounts but didn't post the above on them but did repost a Houston Chronicle reporter's post about the special election issue - https://bsky.app/profile/abbschurch.bsky.social/post/3llosz6bbos2v)