'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme
A CNN host confronted Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over his efforts to help the GOP fix the 2026 midterm election.
Jake Tapper, host of "The Lead," spoke with Abbott about the state's redistricting efforts and Abbott's threats to remove Democrats who broke quorum from their elected seats.
Abbott accused the Democrats of "failing to fulfill their constitutional duty" by breaking quorum. The Democrats, who represent a small minority in the Texas legislature, have said breaking quorum and leaving the state was the only way to prevent the state GOP from passing new election maps that eliminate five Democrat-held congressional seats.
One of the Texas GOP's primary targets is Gene Wu, who chairs the Texas House Democratic Coalition.
"What gives you the right to override the will of his voters who elected him?" Tapper asked Abbott.
"I think the will of the people who elected him are (sic) not being met right now," Abbott said. "The people who elected him, as well as the other Democrats who have run from their duty, didn't elect them to run off to Illinois."
Tapper also pressed Abbott about the purpose of the redistricting effort. Republicans have repeatedly said that a recent Supreme Court decision gave them the right to redraw their maps.
"We want to draw districts that give Hispanics and African Americans in the state of Texas the ability to elect their candidate of choice," Abbott said.
"You're doing this to give Trump and Republicans in the House of Representatives five additional seats, right? That's the motivation: to stave off any midterm election losses," Tapper replied.