President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Republicans were “entitled” to five more seats in Texas, marking his first public comments on the state’s redistricting efforts.
The point: Trump had remained quiet on the state’s proposed redrawn map, which would give Republicans the opportunity to pick up as many as five seats in the state.
- “We have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor, and we have good people in Texas. And I won Texas,” Trump said in a phone call to CNBC’s Squawk Box.
- “I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are entitled to five more seats,” he added.
Overall view: Last week, Texas Republicans unveiled a new congressional map that would strengthen the party’s chances of maintaining control of the House of Representatives next year.
Having impact: Texas Democrats fled the state on Sunday, in a move to delay the vote to implement the map.
- “They are attempting to cheat,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said of Texas Republicans Sunday evening.
- Democratic Caucus chair Gene Wu said at a Sunday evening press conference the issue is of “deep concern”.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to expel the Democrats from the Texas state House and even go as far as have them arrested.
- “I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons,” Abbott said in the statement.
More: Texas Democrats Flee To Illinois To Delay Controversial Vote
