ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, along with Democratic members of the Texas State Legislature, fielded questions from members of the Legislative Correspondents' Association (LCA) following a press conference regarding Texas's redistricting plan.

Dan Clark of the Times Union asked if, given the proposed 2027 amendment to the New York State Constitution (S.8467), the Independent Redistricting Commission should be disbanded. "Yes," Governor Hochul answered unequivocally. "I'm tired of fighting this fight with one hand tied behind my back, she continued. The Governor described the Independent Redistricting Commission as an abdication of the people's will. "The reason the Democrats are able to draw the lines is because the majority of the state elected us," she said. "We're sick and tired of being pushed around," she punctuated, adding, "the playing field has changed dramatically." Jon Campbell of WNYC and the Gothamist would later ask how this alteration to the State Constitution would work, to which the Governor said conversations on exact wording and process are ongoing. Governor Hochul said the situation has drastically changed since the creation of the Independent Redistricting Committee, insisting New Yorkers are fed up with the attacks from Washington. "We're considering all options right now," affirmed Governor Hochul. "It's difficult to ask New York, California, and other Democratic-leaning states to play non-partisan while the Republicans play very partisan," said Speaker Heastie.

Governor Hochul was asked if it would be unfair to classify the redrawing of New York's district maps in 2027 as the state "abandoning good government and good democracy in an effort to save democracy." Governor Hochul responded, "if that's what's called for," calling efforts to preserve democracy "my top priority, at any cost, because it is under siege."

Zach Williams of Bloomberg asked Mihaela Plesa, Texas Democratic Caucus First Vice Chair, for her response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott suggesting the Texas Democrats staying in New York and refusing to return to Texas may constitute a felony. "Is it fair to say you plan to stay here indefinitely?" asked Williams. "Have you ever heard the Texas saying 'Come and get it, come and take it?' Plesa responded. Plesa said Governor Abbott was "very good at manipulating the truth," noting their refusal to return to Austin for a special session was a mechanism provided by the Texas State Constitution since its beginning.

Identifying herself as a lawyer, Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones said there exists nothing in the Texas penal code that suggests their actions are criminal. "Respectfully," Jones emphasized, "he's making up some shit." Jones said Abbott was merely "trying to get soundbites" and that even if the Texas Governor possessed a mechanism to call for their arrests Texas subpoenas are not valid in New York State or Chicago. Jones, a member of Texas's Redistricting Committee, outlined a process she described as "the worst kept secret in Texas," and painted a picture of rushed "sham hearings" where overwhelming public response to the maps appeared to be negative. "Districts that are targeted are overwhelmingly Black districts," Jones continued. "My grandmother said this," she concluded, "if you allow yourself to be a rug, people will step on you."

It was noted that the Texas representatives would be leaving the Capitol Region later today, though on the advice of counsel neither they nor the Governor would disclosure their next destination. Asked if the plan was for Democratic members to continue traveling the country rather than return to Austin, Plesa said plainly, "This is a war. We're building a coalition." Texas Representative Lulu Flores added "We are not going back to Texas right now and we are not abandoning our jobs."

Matthew Mirro / New York StateWatch