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Greg Abbott: “I called a special session. I put items on the agenda, and…”

Featuring: Greg Abbott, Republican | Governor of Texas

'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme

Published August 11, 2025 | Video Starts at 06:57

What I do have control over, Jake, is what we're dealing with right now. And that is, I called a special session. I put items on the agenda, and by Texas law, those runaway Democrats are required to act on that agenda. They're failing to do their duty. So there's a violation of state law that allows me to seek the removal of those who've abdicated their responsibility. Let's play this out. (06:57–07:08)

CLAIM

Asserts that he called a special session and Democrats are legally required to act on the agenda.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Greg Abbott

“A federal court decision that came out last year said that Texas is no longer required to have coalition districts.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 02:51-02:59
“We wanted to remove those coalition districts and draw them in ways that in fact turned out to provide more seats for Hispanics.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 03:02-03:13
“Districts where the electorate voted heavily for Trump, they were trapped in a Democrat congressional district.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 04:30-04:39
“Texas has the ability to eliminate 10 Democrats in our state.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 09:48-09:53
“The first four items on the agenda right now deal with flood relief.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 00:23-00:28
“They [Democrats] are required to meet and consider and act on every bill that becomes before them.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 00:42-01:42
“Texas is now authorized under law that changed.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 04:05-04:09
“What I have the authority to do as governor is to require these members of the legislature to follow the Constitution.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 05:33-05:41
“The Texas Supreme Court has required Jean Wu to respond to that.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 05:54-05:59
“There's a violation of state law that allows me to seek the removal of those who've abdicated their responsibility.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 07:09-07:15
“I'm going to call special session after special session after special session.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 07:21-07:26
“I can call a special session at any time to have these districts redrawn.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 08:02-08:07
“Even if we get to and beyond the filing deadline, we are still going to redraw these maps.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 08:07-08:14
“We can do again, and that is have two different elections, one for all the other candidates on the ballot, one for members of Congress.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 08:15-08:23
“All those big blue states, they've already gerrymandered.”
'What gives you the right?' CNN's Jake Tapper calls out Texas gov on GOP’s election scheme | Uploaded August 11, 2025 | 09:26-09:32