Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott is facing criticism for delaying the calling of a special election to fill the seat of Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who passed away a month ago. Abbott cited election problems in Harris County as the reason for the delay, but Teneshia Hudspeth, the chief elections officer in the county, insisted that they are fully prepared to hold the election.
Democrats accuse Abbott of stalling the election to help Republicans maintain their slim margins in the U.S. House. One candidate, Christian Menefee, threatened to sue Abbott over the delay. Turner’s district, which includes parts of Houston and Harris County, has nearly 800,000 residents.
Abbott, who has the authority to call for a special election, did not provide a date for the election but stated it would be announced soon. He referenced past election problems in Harris County, including long lines and ballot shortages, as the reason for the delay. In 2023, Abbott removed Harris County’s elections administrator and transferred the responsibility to other local officials.
Hudspeth defended the county’s election administration record since regaining responsibilities and stated they have successfully conducted eight elections. Menefee criticized Abbott’s comments as “nonsense” and urged him to call the election without further delay. The situation continues to unfold as the community awaits further updates on the special election date.
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