Nearly two months after U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R- San Antonio) resigned from Congress, Gov. Greg Abbott still has not called for a special election to fill the spot.
Why is this important?
The 23rd congressional district, which represents over 800,000 South Texans, has recently been impacted by the discovery of the New World screwworm. As federal authorities rush to stop the spread, that region needs representation in the U.S. House.
What are lawmakers saying?
- Padilla Stout (D): “I believe leaving 800,000 constituents without representation is an emergency."
- Brandon Herrera (R): “The time to act was years ago.”
Governor Abbott is the only one with discretion to call a special election, which he is yet to do. If no special election is called, the spot will be filled in the Nov. 3 general election and the winner will not be sworn into Congress until January.
In the November election, Republican Brandon Herrera is running against Democrat Padilla Stout for the vacant spot.
“I believe leaving 800,000 constituents without representation is an emergency,” Stout said in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman.
If there is no special election called by the governor, that would leave the district with a 265 day Congressional vacancy, as they deal with screwworms threatening cattle ranchers.
"The time to act was years ago," Herrera said on X.
Although Republicans have held the spot for over 10 years, many are concerned the seat could be flipped. Right now, Republicans only hold a four-seat majority in the U.S. House.
Until a special election is called, the area remains unrepresented until the fall.
